Nikolas Venios from the Ideas Agency has devised a compelling story that explores the connections between the brain, LSD, and a creativity pill experiment.
Your brain has stuff called Myelin in it. It’s like insulation that builds up around neurons over time. The more you practice and repeat an activity, the more Myelin wraps around that same neural pathway, making you more efficient at it.
But…is there a way to develop genius ideas if creative thinking isn’t part of your job description?
I’ve always fancied making a creativity pill —essentially sugar— but telling a workshop group it’s a ‘Creative Genius’ pill. My rationale is that our brains struggle to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not, which is why you’ll jump when you watch a scary film this Halloween.
This is akin to the visualisation technique athletes employ to enhance their performance.
If my workshop participants believe they’re creative geniuses due to taking the pill, they’re likely to generate some impressive solutions, driven by their expectations and their bodies’ reaction to that thought.
And what about genuine ‘genius pills’? In the 1960s, psychologist James Fadiman conducted experiments where he administered low doses of LSD to scientists and professionals struggling with unsolvable problems. After taking a microdose, they engaged in creativity-enhancing activities like drawing or solving puzzles and tackled their challenges. Fadiman reported that nearly all participants devised viable solutions or gained significant insights.
Now, I’m not advocating that we start workshops by microdosing, but I think Fadiman’s participants were able to relax and be in a better state to solve their challenges. How many ideas are born in the pub, in the shower, or while doing something mundane, letting the mind wander?
Innovation thrives in environments that encourage mental flexibility, so create physical and cultural spaces where your people feel comfortable and supported in exploring unconventional solutions.
Also, as a side note, if anyone can help with creating my ‘Genius Pills,’ then DM me. I think it would be a brilliant experiment!
Watch Nikolas’s video on LinkedIn by clicking here.
