Creativity, the flow state and brain function

Abstract

There are various concepts of optimal human functioning such as creativity, flow, peak experience and self-actualization. With suggestions that creativity and flow are interrelated, and possibly even interchangeable, at first glance the metaphor of flow and the concept of creativity seem to be entangled. Rich descriptions of creativity and the flow experience exist, especially in psychological literature, yet very little is understood of the brain mechanisms that govern such human functioning. This article investigates flow, creativity, and the brain mechanisms that elicit such unusual human functioning, and what brain processes ground these psychological constructs. The intention is to distinguish the concept of flow from creativity, and expand the heuristic understanding and value of flow within the creative disciplines.

Kreatiwiteit, die vloeistaat en breinfunksie: Kreatiwiteit, vloei, uitstekbelewenis en selfaktualisering kan beskou word as konsepte van optimale menslike ervaring. Oppervlakkig beskou, kan die suggestie dat kreatiwiteit en vloei verwant is, en moontlik ook verruilbaar is, [dit] wel [laat] voorkom asof die twee konsepte eens is. Die sielkundige literatuur beskik oor ryk beskrywings van kreatiwiteit en die vloei-ervaring, dog word bitter min verstaan van die breinmeganismes wat sulke menslike optrede beheer. Hierdie artikel ondersoek vloei, kreatiwiteit, sowel as die breinmeganismes waaruit sulke ongewone menslike funksionering voortspruit, sowel as die breinprosesse wat hierdie sielkundige konstrukte gewig gee. Die doel is om die twee konsepte te onderskei, sowel as om die heuristiese verstaan en waarde daarvan te verbreed binne-in die kreatiwe dissiplines.