There are specific sounds which can dramatically increase your creativity. In fact, you will never want to work without a proper background sound anymore. Before understanding how music enhances your inspiration let’s first analyze the sound itself a bit.
Sounds are waves, generated by vibrating matters. There are certain frequencies of waves which can put your mind in a different state. Surprisingly, these waves regulate your brainwave states to a certain level.
Meet the frequencies inside your brain!
As this article by Scientific American states, there are different brainwave states which are Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Delta and Theta states are low frequency brainwave states. Hence, they are related with sleep, relaxation and meditation.
Gamma state is high frequency state which makes you alert and highly focused. Alpha state puts you in a more relaxed mood. As a result, it reduces stress, amps up positive thinking and induces fast learning. Beta state boosts your attention, makes you better problem solver and works on your cognitive abilities.
Go alpha in Creativity with Alpha state!
Alpha and Beta state are where we are more creative. In the article named “EEG alpha power and creative ideation” there are scientific findings that Alpha state leads you to divergent thinking. There are two types of thinking process in creativity. We can also examine in this article which are convergent and divergent thinking.
To simplify convergent and divergent thinking, here is an example. Divergent thinking is necessary when we need an unconventional strategy and to create something completely different. Brainstorming is an example to divergent thinking.
On the other hand we need convergence thinking in a situation where we have all the sources to find an answer but we need to link them together. They are both important and used in creative thinking. In other words, to create something, people use divergent thinking then use the convergent thinking to analyze findings.
Here is an example of sounds which adjust your brainwave state to ALPHA and BETA states. (Use a headphone and listen in low volume.)
Music is not as innocent as you may think.
Music without certain frequency and also with lyrics, on the other hand, may have impairing effect on creativity. According to a study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology, music with known or familiar lyrics defects creativity.
In the study, participants were asked to complete a task. There were three groups and they were all native English speakers. For the first group, Spanish music was played and for the second one, there were only instrumental music without any lyrics nor vocals. The third group listened to songs with english lyrics which are also popular.
Overall, all the three groups showed considerable amount of decrease on completing the task. The third group was the one that proved to be most effected by the music. The group stated that music uplifted their mood and helped improve their creativity in this manner. Even so it diverted them and they couldn’t focus.
Try it out and share with others!
All in all, we suggest you to adjust your brain to alpha or beta state can boost your creativity. Try it out and comment your results below our Instagram post. You can change the way your brain works!