![\"caffeine-may-boost-problem-solving-ability--not-creativity--study-rapid-news-rapidnews\"](\"https:\/\/dailyrapidnews.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/caffeine-may-boost-problem-solving-ability-not-creativity-study-rapid-news-rapidnews.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCaffeine consumption may increase the ability to focus and solve problems, but it doesn’t stimulate creativity, according to a study.<\/p>\n
While the cognitive benefits of caffeine — increased alertness, improved vigilance, enhanced focus and improved motor performance — are well established, the stimulant’s affect on creativity is less known, the researchers said.<\/p>\n
“In Western cultures, caffeine is stereotypically associated with creative occupations and lifestyles, from writers and their coffee to programmers and their energy drinks, and there’s more than a kernel of truth to these stereotypes,” said Darya Zabelina, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas in the US.<\/p>\n
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The study, published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, differentiates “convergent” from “divergent” thinking.<\/p>\n
The former is defined as seeking a specific solution to a problem, for example, the “correct” answer, while the latter is characterised by idea generation where a large set of apt, novel or interesting responses would be suitable.<\/p>\n
Caffeine was shown to improve convergent thinking in the study, while consuming it had no significant impact on divergent thinking, the researchers said.<\/p>\n
For the study, 80 volunteers were randomly given either a 200 milligramme (mg) caffeine pill, equivalent to one strong cup of coffee, or a placebo.<\/p>\n
They were then tested on standard measures of convergent and divergent thinking, working memory and mood.<\/p>\n
In addition to the results on creativity, caffeine did not significantly affect working memory, but test subjects who took it did report feeling less sad.<\/p>\n
“The 200mg enhanced problem solving significantly, but had no effect on creative thinking,” said Zabelina.<\/p>\n
“It also didn’t make it worse, so keep drinking your coffee; it won’t interfere with these abilities,” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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