Waking Up Right After Drifting Off To Sleep Can Boost Creativity (science.org) 28
sciencehabit writes: When Thomas Edison hit a wall with his inventions, he would nap in an armchair while holding a steel ball. As he started to fall asleep and his muscles relaxed, the ball would strike the floor, waking him with insights into his problems. Or so the story goes. Now, more than 100 years later, scientists have repeated the trick in a lab, revealing that the famous inventor was on to something. People following his recipe tripled their chances of solving a math problem. The trick was to wake up in the transition between sleep and wakefulness, just before deep sleep.
The study team also identified a brain activity pattern linked to the creativity-boosting phase: moderate levels of brain waves at a slow frequency known as alpha, associated with relaxation, and low levels of delta waves, a hallmark of deep sleep. Experts say researchers can now focus on this brain signature when investigating the neural mechanisms of creative problem-solving. One team has already planned an experiment to help people reach a creative zone by monitoring their brain waves in real time. "Edison's intuition was somewhat right," says the lead scientist, "and now we have a lot more to explore."
The study team also identified a brain activity pattern linked to the creativity-boosting phase: moderate levels of brain waves at a slow frequency known as alpha, associated with relaxation, and low levels of delta waves, a hallmark of deep sleep. Experts say researchers can now focus on this brain signature when investigating the neural mechanisms of creative problem-solving. One team has already planned an experiment to help people reach a creative zone by monitoring their brain waves in real time. "Edison's intuition was somewhat right," says the lead scientist, "and now we have a lot more to explore."
Sounds like an awesome way to piss off... (Score:3, Funny)
Might be onto something.... (Score:5, Interesting)
I know that when I'm woken up by someone JUST as I start to nod off, I get very irritated because my mind feels fully active and I can't fall back asleep again. But if I'm woken up later on, I'll easily fall back asleep.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
I have no idea what this woke thing is, but please let us go, Brandon!
I do something similar (Score:4, Interesting)
I do something similar to solve hard coding problems. I'll start scanning and reading various documentation until I'm almost nodding off and then I enter this trance-like state where I work problems efficiently.
It almost feels like a dream in retrospect.
Often get the answer randomly popping into my head shortly after, or the next morning.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Others, dream their solution. Elisa Howe [wikipedia.org] explained how he invented the first practical sewing machine needle
"His original idea was to follow the model of the ordinary needle, and have the eye at the heel. It never occurred to him that it should be placed near the point, and he might have failed altogether if he had not dreamed he was building a sewing machine for a savage king in a strange country. Just as in his actual working experience, he was perplex
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I kind of do something similar, rather than try and solve a curly issue, I put it aside and sure enough the next day I have an idea in my head which I didn't think of, its just there (note to others wanting to use this advanced technique, sometimes it takes 2 days, sometimes it takes a week). An epiphany I believe its called.
Yikes dreams (Score:2)
That's how I do ... (Score:2)
Power Napping (Score:3, Informative)
not fair (Score:1)
every time this happens to me I just get sleep paralysis with extremely loud tinnitus noises.
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But I have noticed in the past that there is in-between state where, if I can stay in it, I can think extra-clearly about a topic.
drink or smoke (Score:3, Insightful)
I think if you take a break and drink a beer or take a quick rip of weed you might get the same effect.
OK... so.. (Score:1)
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I don't think the point is to get yourself in a sleep deprivation state. It's more about getting your mind shifted into the creative free-flow of near dream state, without actually being asleep. You can still sleep eight hours a night and take a quick power nap mid morning or mid afternoon. I'd imagine this is a similar principal, just with a better wake-point than "I'll give myself fifteen minutes."
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This is about bringing yourself to a state of alpha wave activity in the brain, nothing to do with sleep deprivation. This is a technique you might use in the middle of the day, after having slept all night, to get a boost of creativity. Getting alpha waves to become dominate is at least partially about closing your eyes, and at least partially about being relaxed. In my experience it doesn't require having fallen asleep, drink a beer and close your eyes for a couple of minutes. This isn't something you sh
Impeccable Timing (Score:2)
The steel ball would hit the floor just in time for him to remember to have a staff member run off and steal more ideas for him to patent. Yes, very productive.
Sci-fi Fantasy writer A. E. Van Vogt used this (Score:1)
A. E. Van Vogt https:///en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._E._van_Vogt#Method_and_themes [wikipedia.org]
arranged to have himself awakened to write down his dreams.
Nobody should report on studies this small (Score:2)
I'm not sure about increasing creativity (Score:2)
But when I nod off at my desk then snap out of it a few seconds later, I feel revitalized and wide awake for a long time after.
It's difficult to concentrate and be creative when struggling to keep your eyes open.
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But when I nod off at my desk then snap out of it a few seconds later, I feel revitalized and wide awake for a long time after.
It's difficult to concentrate and be creative when struggling to keep your eyes open.
Dear boss: "I was not asleep I was being creatively revitalised".
However... (Score:2)
However, your life span will be cut in half. Choose your poison.
New Parents (Score:2)
Hypnogogic jerks (Score:1)