Rozwój kreatywnego myślenia w wieku zaawansowanym w kontekście zapobiegania upośledzeniu funkcji poznawczych związanych z wiekiem: wybrane dane behawioralne i neuronalne

Abstract

Creative or innovative thinking can be understood as a mental process that supports the generation of novel and useful ideas. As such, creative thinking is a vital cognitive capacity allowing a person to respond effectively to changing and challenging life demands. Keeping that faculty adaptive and flexible is possible. In this article, I highlight some developments in the science of innovative thinking which focus on reinforcing creativity and cognitive capabilities across the lifespan through training programs. Data in psychology is supported by data in neuroscience, therefore behavioural effects of training of innovative thinking can be explained with neural mechanisms in the brain (neuroplastic mechanisms). The findings that creative thinking can be preserved and fostered in ageing motivates for a further push to explore and exploit relations between innovative thinking and cognitive abilities necessary in daily life; which in turn can prevent the cognitive decline with advancing age. New promising trainings enhancing creative thinking and neural mechanisms underlying them are still emerging and developing.