Neuroticism is identified as a “fundamental personality trait” characterized by a host of varying emotions, including fear, frustration, moodiness and anxiety, among other things. For the most part, it is associated with negativity and unhappiness, but psychologists at King’s College London in the U.K. have found that it can also foster creativity.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND Neuroticism AND CREATIVITY
The opinion paper detailing this theory was published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences this week. According to researchers, the part of the brain that is known to stimulate negative emotions can also trigger “imagination-related” thought, reports Samantha Costa, a Health + Wellness reporter at U.S. News.
This occurs due to the activity in the medial prefrontal cortex in the brain, which is responsible for producing fear. When neurotic people over-think, they have a tendency to “switch to panic mode” sooner than the average person does. This is the result of the high reactivity level in the basolateral nuclei of the amygdale, which triggers intensified emotions and perceived threats where there are none. This overactive imagination activates the mind, propelling it into a problem solving mode, which can also serve as a foundation for creative ideas.
WHAT THE RESULTS COULD MEAN
At the moment, the research itself is not entirely conclusive, and researchers admit, “[there’s]…still a long way off from fully explaining neuroticism.” However, despite the fact that many questions are still left unanswered, the new theory does help to shed light on the topic and serves as an igniting point for further research and analysis.
Adam Perkins, a personality researcher at King’s College London, stated in a press release, “Hopefully our theory will also stimulate new research as it provides us with a straightforward unifying framework to tie together the creative aspects of neuroticism with its emotional aspects.”
In the meantime, the study does help to explain the creative genius of some of the most influential people in history: scientists and artists like Charles Darwin, Vincent Van Gogh and Kurt Cobain, just to name a few.
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Neuroticism Linked To Creativity Reveals Study
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