The Science of Creativity

Overview

​​This is a 3-session course at Shoshin College.

​​Shoshin College is an independent experimental school in London, England. Read more about our philosophy on our website shoshincollege.org and our Substack shoshincollege.substack.com.

​​​Course Description

​This course provides a comprehensive overview of past and current research on creative thinking. The sessions will cover theories of creativity and the behavioural and neural basis of creativity. Finally, each session will provide empirically grounded suggestions on how to stimulate your own creative thinking.

​Location: Haggeston, London (closest station)

​Session I: Tue 4 Mar 2025 — 6:30pm

​The Creative Mind and Brain

• How do you even measure creativity?
• Theories of creative cognition
• ​The neural basis for creativity: networks and oscillatory activity
• ​Individual differences in creative potential

​Session II: Tue 11 Mar 2025 — 6:30pm

​Creativity in Action: Flow States, Inspiration, and Dynamic Thinking

• Theories, empirical understanding, and neural correlates of Flow states
• ​Types of motivation & reward that foster creative achievement
• ​Models of the creative process and how to use them

​Session III: Tue 18 Mar 2025 — 6:30pm

​Ouroboros: Wellbeing and Creativity

• The mythology of the “mad genius”
• ​Neurotypes and creative potential
• ​The interplay between physical and mental well-being and creativity

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​Francesca Torno Jimenez is a doctoral candidate researching the neurophysiology of creative thinking. She is also an associate lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London psychology department, teaching an array of topics from statistics to social psychology. Besides investigating creativity, she is involved in her own creative practices as an active painter and writer.