There is a way to reliably access your creativity on a regular basis. Many famous people have used this technique, including Alexander the Great (356-323BC); composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), organic chemist August Kekule (1829-1896), inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931), theoretical physicist Albert Einstein (1879-1955) and surrealist painter Salvador Dalí (1904-1989).
Just as we begin to drift into sleep we pass through a brief period of insight and creativity called N1 (nonrapid-eye-movement sleep stage 1). This is called a hypnagogic state and, if we access it deliberately, we can recall our smarter insightful ideas more easily. Recent research published in Science Advances by Delphine Oudiette and others confirms this idea.
Participants (103) in the study were given mathematical problems that had a hidden rule allowing them to be solved very quickly. Sixteen people recognised the rule straight away and were excluded from the study. The remaining people were asked to rest in a reclining position for 20 minutes while holding a drinking glass in their right hand. If the glass fell as they began to nod off, they were asked what they had been thinking before they dropped the glass. The subjects were presented with the maths problems again after their rest.
The researchers report: “We found that spending at least 15 seconds in N1 during the resting period tripled the chance to discover the hidden rule (83 per cent versus 30 per cent when participants remained awake) and this effect vanished if the subjects reached deeper sleep. The findings suggest there is a creative sweet spot within the sleep onset period and hitting it requires individuals balancing falling asleep easily against falling asleep too deeply.
Light-bulb moment
Thomas Edison, the American inventor of the light bulb, almost certainly used this technique to uncover new ideas and solutions. Edison thought sleep was a waste of time and said he never slept more than four hours a night. He used to nap frequently while holding a ball in each hand and, as he fell asleep, the balls would drop and wake him.
August Kekule also famously used this technique. As every secondary school science student knows, the six-carbon benzene molecule, very important in organic chemistry, is a ring structure. Kekule discovered this structure while he was working late one night. “Half asleep,” he visualised a chain of six carbon atoms joined end to end and wriggling about like a snake. Suddenly the snake bit its own tail and Kekule saw the ring structure.
Salvador Dalí also made much use of this technique to generate new ideas. He had little time for sleep but took frequent naps. As he began a nap he held a key over a metal plate. The clanging noise of the dropped key woke him as he began to drop off, inspiring his impressive artistic imagery. I recently saw his magnificent painting Christ of St John of the Cross at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
Albert Einstein famously made much use of structured daydreaming when developing his ideas about relativity and gravity. For example, imagining what it would be like if he could travel through the universe riding on a beam of light helped him develop his special theory of relativity. He called this activity “thought experiments” and was very enthusiastic about it, saying “Creativity is intelligence having fun” and “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Do it yourself
Effectively harnessing creativity using either the N1 sleep stage method (like Dalí) or Einstein’s daydreaming method (surely both methods work on the same principle) calls for some simple preparation. You need to think actively about the problem you are trying to solve, examining it from several angles and trying out various solutions. This briefs the deepest parts of your mind, giving your unconscious plenty to work on. Then just switch off and let your mind wander.
There are many ways to get your mind ready for daydreaming, such as walking in the park, riding your bicycle, standing in the shower or lying awake in bed. Mozart had his most creative moments lying awake at night, nice and warm in bed. Readers can also consult an engaging account by Bret Steka of the Edison method of accessing creativity in Scientific American – published last December.
William Reville is an emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC
