This is your brain on creativity, for real
No, we’re not talking right side vs left side. The concept that certain people are more ‘left-brained’ than others is actually a total myth, and one that experts wish would go away. ‘A lot of regions work together on different parts of the creative process; we call these “brain networks,”’ says Dr Cotter. There’s the default mode network, which helps with brainstorming and idea generation. Then the salience one, which is where you sort through ideas and identify important ones. And finally, the executive network, which zeroes in on worthwhile ideas and discards others that aren’t useful, explains Dr Cotter. In other words, the magic happens all over your brain – picture it sparkling like a bunch of twinkly lights as the networks do their thing.