Is it time to revisit the role of psychedelic drugs in enhancing human creativity?
This commentary (2008) reviews the historical link between psychedelics and creativity, noting that while 1960s studies were methodologically flawed, the topic warrants renewed investigation using modern neuroscientific methods.
Abstract
Human creativity is difficult to define and measure, but it is undoubtedly an important cognitive process. This makes it an interesting challenge for modern neuroscientific exploration - especially given the current interest in developing cognitive enhancers for commercial and clinical uses. There are similarities between the typical traits of creative people and the subjective psychological characteristics of the psychedelic (hallucinogenic) drug experience. This phenomenon was studied in a number of small trials and case studies in the 1960s. Results were inconclusive, and the quality of these studies - by modern research standards - was merely anecdotal. Nevertheless, with today's current renaissance in psychedelic drug research and the growing interest in cognitive-enhancing drugs, now may be the time to re-visit these studies with contemporary research methods.
Research Summary of 'Is it time to revisit the role of psychedelic drugs in enhancing human creativity?'
Introduction
Sessa frames the paper within the contemporary 'renaissance' of clinical research into psychedelic drugs and notes that most modern work has concentrated on therapeutic applications. He argues that, alongside these clinical avenues, psychedelics deserve renewed attention for what they might reveal about cognition more broadly, and in particular their potential role in enhancing creativity. The introduction sets out the basic problem for such a programme of research: creativity is difficult to define and measure, so any effort to test whether psychedelic drugs enhance creative thinking must begin with careful consideration of what is meant by creativity and how it can be assessed. Sessa therefore motivates a review of historical studies, anecdotal reports and relevant neuroscientific ideas to establish whether revisiting this area with contemporary methods is warranted.
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Sessa, B. (2008). Is it time to revisit the role of psychedelic drugs in enhancing human creativity?. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 22(8), 821-827. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881108091597
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