The effect of positive affect on the breadth of attention and creativity: A neurocognitive approach

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event The effect of positive affect on the breadth of attention and creativity: A neurocognitive approach Shu-Hua Yeh1* 1 University of Bristol, ISB, United Kingdom The present study explores the influence of positive affect on attention and creativity from neurocognitive theories, by examining the effects of playing computer games and watching humorous films on the breadth of attention and creative idea generation. One theory suggests positive affect may facilitate the flexibility of working memory and improve creativity and attentional ability. Another theory suggests positive affect, if involving high approach motivation, (i.e. a sense of desire to win during playing a computer game), can reduce breadth of attention with an associated decrease in creative idea generation. These theories may not be conflicting, but suggest that different types of activity which generate positive affect in different levels of approach motivation (e.g. watching a humorous film and playing a computer game) may produce different effects upon attention and creative performance. Two studies are conducted to examine this notion. Study 1 compared the effect of playing a computer shooter game with watching a humorous film on attentional focus by using Navon’ts letter task and the evoked feelings by using self-rated scales. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that playing computer games evoked high-approach motivation positive affect that would produce decrements in an idea generation task relative to viewing humorous and neutral films. Study 1 revealed the distinctive features of feelings evoked by playing the computer game compared with watching a humorous film were increase desire and decreased relaxation respectively (i.e. suggestive of higher approach motivation). It also showed that playing the computer game focused the breadth of attention significantly. The effects of the computer game on creativity observed in Study 2 showed less idea productions rate relative to viewing a neutral film. The originality of the ideas generated are compared and discussed. Further comparison of the effects between the two types of positive affect will be discussed with educational implications considered. Conference: EARLI SIG22 - Neuroscience and Education, Zurich, Switzerland, 3 Jun - 5 Jun, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Creative thinking Citation: Yeh S (2010). The effect of positive affect on the breadth of attention and creativity: A neurocognitive approach. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: EARLI SIG22 - Neuroscience and Education. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.11.00027 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 31 May 2010; Published Online: 31 May 2010. * Correspondence: Shu-Hua Yeh, University of Bristol, ISB, Bristol, United Kingdom, chloeshyeh@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Shu-Hua Yeh Google Shu-Hua Yeh Google Scholar Shu-Hua Yeh PubMed Shu-Hua Yeh Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.