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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Creativity and aging: Positive consequences of distraction.

Stephanie M Carpenter¹, Rebecca L Chae², Carolyn Yoon²

¹Institute for Social Research.

Psychology and Aging

|August 4, 2020

Summary

Distraction can surprisingly boost creativity, especially in older adults. Studies show congruent distraction enhances creative tasks for both age groups, with older adults showing even greater benefits.

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Last Updated: Dec 13, 2025

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition

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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Published on: January 24, 2020

Area of Science:

Cognitive Psychology
Neuroscience of Aging

Background:

Diminished inhibitory control increases vulnerability to distracting information.
Older adults are particularly susceptible to distraction's disruptive effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of distraction on creativity in younger and older adults.
To determine if distraction can have beneficial effects on creative performance.

Main Methods:

Two studies were conducted involving younger and older adults.
Participants completed creativity tasks (recipe generation, unusual uses for a brick) with and without congruent distracting information.

Main Results:

Congruent distraction enhanced creative recipe generation in both age groups.
Older adults showed preserved or enhanced creativity with distraction compared to younger adults.
Older adults generated more creative solutions than younger adults on the unusual uses task after distraction exposure.

Conclusions:

Distraction can have beneficial consequences for creativity, particularly in older adults.
Findings suggest leveraging distraction as a strategy to enhance cognitive functions like creativity in aging populations.