Some people are more creative when they’re drunk

[n2doc]

Are you more creative when you're drunk? It's one of those soundbites that you're liable to hear a friend spout off somewhere between their fourth and fifth beer — a little factoid that might actually sound somewhat feasible if only there were a scientific study lying around to back it up.

Fortunately for you, Jonah Lehrer — master of ceremonies over at Frontal Cortex — has served up a recently published study that proves that being drunk can, in fact, be great for creativity. (As an added bonus, he throws in a second paper that shows the same can be said about being sleepy.)

So how do alcohol and grogginess help you wring as much creative juice out of your brain as possible? According to Lehrer, they both help us "consider irrelevant information... eavesdrop on all the stray associations unfolding in the far reaches of the brain. We are more likely to find the answer because we have less control over where we look." He continues:

A brand-new study by scientists at the University of Illinois at Chicago compared performance on insight puzzles between sober and drunk students. (They were aiming for real intoxication, giving students enough booze to achieve a blood alcohol level of 0.075.) Once the students achieved "peak intoxication" the scientists gave them a battery of word problems – they're known as remote associate tests – that are often solved in a moment of insight. Here's a sample problem. Your task is to find the one additional word that goes with the following triad of words:

Cracker Union Rabbit

In this case, the answer is "jack." According to the data, drunk students solved more of these word problems in less time. They also were much more likely to perceive their solutions as the result of a sudden insight. And the differences were dramatic: The alcohol made subjects nearly 30 percent more likely to find the unexpected solution.

more

http://io9.com/5883845/some-people-are-more-creative-when-theyre-drunk

[provis99]

1. I'm more creative when I'm drunk.

I can't tell you the number of ways I have thought up to creatively vomit.

[fascisthunter]

4. ahhh... a libation for the the porcelain goddess.

[fascisthunter]

2. no... more creative when I smoke pot

[RKP5637]

5. +1, n/t

[fascisthunter]

8. I've drawn and painted a lot while smoking pot

it truly allows me to tap into creativity.

[RKP5637]

3. Yep, I think this is right on target! It looses up the inhibitions toward

off the wall ideas and creativity!

[msanthrope]

6. Great. That's just gonna encourage more DUers to drink and post. nt

[Capitalocracy]

9. Yuo dont knwow aht your' takling aoubt.

Cricumciisonjh is worng!

[Fla_Democrat]

7. I am

Heck, you should hear some of the yarns I spin when I come home late and and I have to answer...... "Just where the hell have you been?!?!"

[russspeakeasy]

17. Tell 'em you were with me. I'll vouch for you.

[Drale]

10. Damn

how come I didn't see fliers for this study around campus?

PS Junior at UIC

[Initech]

11. I like what Zach Galafinakis said:

"I do my best work hungover - fewer brain cells with which to confuse the issues."

[donco]

12. yep (Creative when drunk )and

AMC's mad men proved it to me.fifth season of "Mad Men" probably in March.

[flexnor]

13. but osifer, i drive more creative when drunk

an it helps me avoid assidents

[Brother Buzz]

14. If talking stupid counts as creative, well count me in

All my truly creative endeavors cease when I "cut a leg".

[pinboy3niner]

15. It's the DUzys' dirty little secret

[The Midway Rebel]

16. I agree but...

there is a fine line easily crossed. Observe guys like Jim Morrison and watch when it goes too far.

[Quantess]

18. I knew it!