This study (n=68) found that having a mystical experience during psychedelic use is correlated with quicker completion times on a measure of creativity (completion time of Duncker’s Candle Problem). The number of mystical experiences was not correlated with completion time.

Abstract of The Associations of Naturalistic Classic Psychedelic Use, Mystical Experience, and Creative Problem Solving

“Developing methods for improving creativity is of broad interest. Classic psychedelics may enhance creativity; however, the underlying mechanisms of action are unknown. This study was designed to assess whether a relationship exists between naturalistic classic psychedelic use and heightened creative problem-solving ability and if so, whether this is mediated by lifetime mystical experience. Participants (N = 68) completed a survey battery assessing lifetime mystical experience and circumstances surrounding the most memorable experience. They were then administered a functional fixedness task in which faster completion times indicate greater creative problem-solving ability. Participants reporting classic psychedelic use concurrent with mystical experience (n = 11) exhibited significantly faster times on the functional fixedness task (Cohen’s d = –.87; large effect) and significantly greater lifetime mystical experience (Cohen’s d = .93; large effect) than participants not reporting classic psychedelic use concurrent with mystical experience. However, lifetime mystical experience was unrelated to completion times on the functional fixedness task (standardized β = –.06), and was therefore not a significant mediator. Classic psychedelic use may increase creativity independent of its effects on mystical experience. Maximizing the likelihood of mystical experience may need not be a goal of psychedelic interventions designed to boost creativity.“

Authors: Noah W. Sweat, Larry W. Bates & Peter S. Hendricks

Notes on The Associations of Naturalistic Classic Psychedelic Use, Mystical Experience, and Creative Problem Solving

It’s interesting to see how the Duncker’s candle problem relates to other measures of creativity. At a glance it seems to be an aspect of divergent creativity (thinking outside the box).

Lifetime mystical experience (how many experiences one had in total) didn’t correlate with the completion time. It’s counter to what was expected, but with a small sample (n=11) of people who even had mystical experiences (so 16% of the sample), it might not be unexpected.

Summary of The Associations of Naturalistic Classic Psychedelic Use, Mystical Experience, and Creative Problem Solving

Given the importance of creativity to the range of human pursuits, several methods for enhancing creativity have been pursued, including cognitive, behavioral, and pharmacologic approaches. Although findings are equivocal, some results have shown promise, including that ayahuasca enhances divergent thinking while decreasing convergent thinking.

Classic psychedelics can induce altered states of self-awareness, pseudo-hallucinations, and mystical-type experiences characterized by feelings of awe, salience, ineffability, timelessness, and oceanic boundlessness/absolute unitary being. These effects may be useful in augmenting creativity.

Researchers are currently investigating how classic psychedelics may boost creativity through controlled classic psychedelic use. These studies indicate that classic psychedelics may alleviate end-of-life distress, decrease alcohol misuse, promote tobacco smoking cessation, relieve treatment-resistant major depression, and trigger durable positive changes to personality and affect among healthy volunteers.

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Find this paper

The Associations of Naturalistic Classic Psychedelic Use, Mystical Experience, and Creative Problem Solving

https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2016.1234090

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Cite this paper (APA)

Sweat, N. W., Bates, L. W., & Hendricks, P. S. (2016). The associations of naturalistic classic psychedelic use, mystical experience, and creative problem solving. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 48(5), 344-350.

Study details

Compounds studied
Psilocybin

Topics studied
Creativity

Study characteristics
Original Survey

Participants
68 Humans

Institutes

Institutes associated with this publication

University of Alabama
Researchers at the University of Alabama are investigating the potential use of psychedelics in a number of disorders.