Mar 14, 2020 13:00:00

Caffeine improves problem-solving skills but does not affect creative thinking

Studies have shown that caffeine, in addition to its

wake- up effect and increased athletic ability , interferes with creative thinking . However, a study by Darya L. Zaverina, a psychologist at the University of Arkansas, reports that it has no effect on creative thinking and can improve the ability to solve problems.

Percolating ideas: The effects of caffeine on creative thinking and problem solving-ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810019303435

Caffeine boosts problem-solving ability but not creativity, study indicates-ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200305135050.htm

Mr. Zabelina said that `` convergent thinking '', which logically infers and derives one correct answer quickly and correctly, and solves the problem, and `` diffuse thinking '', which produces many creative ideas by turning over the thoughts, by caffeine We investigated how it would be affected.

A total of 88 people, 60 women and 28 men, participated in the experiment. Participants are between the ages of 18 and 35, consuming 1-2 cups of caffeinated beverage per day for at least 5 days a week.

Participants were divided into two groups of 44 people, both of whom were instructed to drink a capsule containing 200 mg of caffeine (equivalent to about 350 ml of coffee). However, only one group drinks capsules that actually contain caffeine, and the other group drinks capsules that contain nothing.

Twenty minutes after drinking the capsule, participants were asked 72 questions to measure convergent thinking. Subsequently, the Torrance Creative Thinking Test for Adults (ATTA) , which measures creative thinking from words and diagrams, was used to measure divergent thinking.

The group who took the caffeinated capsules averaged 29 questions about measuring convergent thinking, and the group who took the capsules without caffeine averaged 25 questions. However, the results of the ATTA did not differ significantly between the two groups.

'In our experiments, 200 mg of caffeine improved our ability to solve problems, but did not affect our ability to generate creative ideas, so continuing to drink coffee hinders creative thinking No, 'said Zaberina.