Cannabis and Ecstasy/MDMA: Empirical measures of creativity in recreational users

This study compared the creativity levels of 15 recreational MDMA users, 15 cannabis users, and 15 controls. It found higher scores for cannabis users on one scale and self-rating of creativity on another scale for MDMA users. As this was just an observational study, nothing much about the creativity of all three groups can be said.

Abstract

“This study investigated the associations between chronic cannabis and Ecstasy/MDMA use and one objective and two subjective measure of creativity. Fifteen abstinent Ecstasy users, 15 abstinent cannabis users, and 15 nondrug-user controls, completed three measures of creativity: the Consequences behavioral test of creativity, self-assessed performance on the Consequences test, and Gough’s Trait Self-Report Creative Adjective Checklist. The Consequences test involved five scenarios where possible consequences had to be devised; scoring was conducted by the standard blind rating (by two independent judges) for “remoteness” and “rarity,” and by a frequency and rarity of responses method. Cannabis users had significantly more “rare-creative” responses than controls (Tukey, p < 0.05); this effect remained significant with gender as a covariate. There were no significant differences between the groups on the number of standard scoring “remote-creative” ideas or for fluency of responses. On self-rated creativity, there was a significant ANOVA group difference (p < 0.05), with Ecstasy users tending to rate their answers as more creative than controls (Tukey comparison; p = 0.058, two-tailed). Ecstasy users did not differ from controls on the behavioral measures of creativity, although there was a borderline trend for self-assessment of greater creativity. Cannabis users produced significantly more “rare-creative” responses, but did not rate themselves as more creative.”

Authors: Katy A. Jones, Mark Blagrove & Andrew C. Parrot

Summary

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In this study, 15 abstinent cannabis nondrug-user controls completed three measures of creativity, and cannabis users produced more “rare -creative” responses, as more creative, than controls. Ecstasy users did not differ from controls on the behavioral measures of creativity.

claiming

A recent article argued that the possible link between psychedelic drug use and creativity should be revisited. The study assessed users, nondrug users, and products for creativity using the Consequences Test and two measures.

The test was selected because it allows for the measuring of a variety of responses and has predictive validity of creativity. It also integrates creativity with thinking ability.

Students at Swansea University recruited Ecstasy users, cannabis users and controls using the snowball technique and by responses to flyers around the campus. All participants were drug free at the time of testing and were paid £10 participation in the study.

The VEL Lifetime Drug Use Questionnaire is used to measure lifetime usage of various drugs, and the RAPM is used to measure a person’s ability to form abstract ideas.

Measurements included Test of Creativity, Alcohol, Cannabis and Ecstasy consumption, tobacco use, LSD, barbituates, opiates, magic mushrooms, solvents, amyl nitrate, lipid Ecstasy consumption, and LSD use.

Participants were asked to write as many consequences as they could for two scenarios: not needing food anymore to live, and preferring to live alone.

Two independent judges rated each response as either “obvious”, “remote”, “duplicate” or “ant”, with obvious being defined as “indicating cessation of usual functions, of commonly associated things, with less aware­ economic, or cultural ramifications”.

If the force of gravity were cut in half, people would respond by trying to get to the moon.

ormance

Control group performance was 5.53 (2.26), cannabis group performance was 2.26, and self-rated consequences were .76.

A list of 30 adjectives were presented to the participants and they were asked to tick all that apply to them.

groups.

The Ecstasy and cannabis groups did not differ for use, current use, or nicotine, and the Ecstasy users had consumed cannabis respec tive previously. There were no significant gender differences.

Consequences-Standard Scoring Table 2 shows that there was no significa between the groups for number of remote, but there was a significant difference for rare scores.

Using

The agreement between measures did not change once frequency scored fluency was included as a covaria partial eta squared = .101.

The difference between groups for self-rating of consequences per­ formance just missed significance after controlling for gender.

The study found that creativity correlates with frequency of responses, and that users’ more creative responses controlled for fluency.

The fluid intelligence scores were not significantly different between the groups, and hence cannot be used to explain the differences. However, Raven’s Matrices is accepted as an intelligence measure, but not as a marker of intelligence.

It has been urinalysis that levels users immediately after use, but future studies should use urinalysis to corroborate self-reported abstinence.

The present study focused on potential beneficial aspects of drug usage, whereas most studies investigate the more problematic aspects of psychoactive drug use. However, the Consequences test is a recognised behavioral measure of creativity, and future research should differentiate between the production of novel, creative solutions and the creative discovery of problems.

In conclusion, this study provides a good platform for hypotheses concerning drug use and creativity. It is possible that more creative individuals seek out psychoactive drugs such as cannabis, possibly to enhance their creativity, or that regular cannabis use enhances creative thinking.

The relationship between measures of creativity, IQ and academic achievement was examined in 1964, and 2008, and the effects of Ecstasy use on creativity were examined in 2005.

Ecstasy/MDMA and creativity are discussed in the articles by Novacek, Raskin, Hogan, R., Oral, G., Kaufman, J.C. & Agars, M.D., and Parrott, A.C. MDMA in humans: Factors which influence the neuropsychobiological profiles of recreational Ecstasy users are discussed. Drug use and abuse amongst women is an overview, and the validity of Raven’s matrices test is discussed. Also, the role of psychedelic drugs in enhancing human creativity is discussed.

Current opinions in psychiatry suggest that 3, 4-methylenediox ymethamphetam ine may be a useful antidepressant, and that jazz and substance abuse may be a road to creative genius or a pathway to premature death.