Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

A Semantic Priming Event-related Potential (ERP) Task to Study Lexico-semantic and Visuo-semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 12, 2018
Optimally sequencing semantic search predicts creativity
Olivier Toubia1, Jonah Berger2
1Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States of America.
Abstract:
Creativity is a fundamental human activity which drives progress and innovation. Extant research has documented the link between creative performance and the efficient navigation of semantic space during the creative process, but we argue that an important aspect of efficiency has been overlooked: the optimal sequence of concepts retrieved. We develop a simple cognitive test, the Shortest Semantic Path Task, and an associated automatic measure (circuitousness), which capture this insight. Five initial validation studies demonstrate that this novel measure predicts creativity above and beyond existing measures, providing a more complete picture of creative performance. The psychometric properties of the specific instruments tested also reveal opportunities to develop more robust and consistent instruments to measure optimal sequencing in semantic search.
Related Concept Videos
Creative Thinking
Divergent thinking is the...
Maxam-Gilbert Sequencing
Challenges of the Maxam-Gilbert Method
The...
Sanger Sequencing
Next-generation Sequencing
Next-Generation Sequencing Methods
Although all next-generation methods use different technologies, they all share a set of standard features.
Heuristics
People often rely on heuristics when faced with an overload of information, limited time, low importance of the decision, limited information, or when a heuristic readily comes to mind. For...
Reason and Intuition