New studies show that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with higher creativity, driven by a tendency for the mind to wander. Presented at the ECNP congress in Amsterdam, the research highlights deliberate mind wandering as a key factor. Findings suggest potential benefits for psychoeducation and treatment of ADHD.
Researchers have uncovered a connection between ADHD and elevated creativity, attributing it to increased mind wandering. The findings, from two studies involving 750 participants, were presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) congress in Amsterdam. This marks the first direct examination of how ADHD traits link to creativity.
Lead researcher Han Fang, from Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, explained the methodology: "We conducted two studies, utilizing 2 different groups of ADHD patients and healthy controls, one from a European group curated by the ECNP, and a second study from a UK group. In total there were 750 participants. Separately analyzing results from 2 independent groups means that we can have greater confidence in the results."
Participants with ADHD exhibited typical traits like inattention, impulsivity, and frequent focus shifts, alongside higher mind wandering. Mind wandering involves attention drifting to self-generated thoughts, occurring more often in ADHD individuals. Fang distinguished two types: spontaneous mind wandering, a loss of concentration drifting between subjects, and deliberate mind wandering, where individuals intentionally allow thoughts to stray.
Creativity was assessed through standard tests, such as finding novel uses for everyday objects. Results showed that those with stronger ADHD traits scored higher on creative achievements. Notably, deliberate mind wandering correlated with greater creativity in ADHD participants. Fang noted: "We found that people with more ADHD traits such as lack of attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, score higher on creative achievements in both studies. This supports previous research. Additionally, we found that mind wandering, particularly deliberate mind wandering, where people allow their 'thoughts to wander on purpose,' was associated with greater creativity in people with ADHD."
The study suggests practical applications, including psychoeducation programs to channel spontaneous ideas into creative outputs and mindfulness interventions to convert spontaneous mind wandering into deliberate forms, potentially reducing impairments. K.P. Lesch, Professor of Molecular Psychiatry at the University of Würzburg, Germany, commented: "Mind wandering is one of the critical resources on which the remarkable creativity of high-functioning ADHD individuals is based. This makes them such an incredibly valuable asset for our society and the future of our planet."