Mind wandering and the incubation effect: Investigating the influence of working memory capacity and cognitive load on divergent thinking

Abstract

The influence of mind wandering on the creative incubation effect has received considerable attention in research. The dual pathway to creativity model suggests that mind wandering can enhance creative performance through the cognitive flexibility pathway. However, existing studies have yielded inconsistent findings, raising questions about the role of the perseverative pathway in the interference of mind wandering on creativity. In this study, conducted through two studies, we investigated the relationship between mind wandering during incubation periods and divergent thinking performance, as well as the moderating role of working memory capacity. The results indicated no direct correlation between the frequency of mind wandering and divergent thinking performance. However, when considering working memory capacity, a significant incubation effect of mind wandering on creativity performance was observed specifically in individuals with low working memory capacity, but only in a low cognitive load task condition. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the adaptive value and functional role of mind wandering in the creative process.