Is Our Brain Wired to BLOCK Creativity? How We Kill Creativity | Saskia Wheeler, Neuroscience Expert | EP 38
Why Is Our Brain Wired to Block Creativity? w/ Saskia Wheeler | Ep35
We've been sold a lie about creativity. Society tells us it's a luxury—something for artists, musicians, and the "creative types" whilst the rest of us get on with "real work." But neuroscience reveals a starkly different truth: creativity isn't just nice to have, it's neurologically essential for problem-solving, mental wellbeing, and human flourishing.
So here's the kicker—if creativity is so fundamental to how our brains are designed to work, why do modern environments and daily habits systematically shut down our creative networks? What's actually happening inside our heads when we create, and more importantly, how can we redesign our lives to unlock this dormant potential?
The Three-Network Problem Your Brain Faces Every Day
Your brain operates three major networks that rarely play nicely together, and this is where the creativity crisis begins. Saskia Wheeler, a neuroscience communicator specialising in mental wellbeing, breaks down this neural conflict that's happening in your head right now.
The Default Mode Network kicks in when you're daydreaming, letting your mind wander, or simply existing without focused attention. This is where creative connections spark. Then there's the Executive Control Network—your inner critic that handles planning, decision-making, and critical analysis. Finally, the Salience Network acts as a bouncer, deciding what deserves your attention and what gets filtered out.
Here's the problem: these networks typically work in opposition. When your executive control is firing on all cylinders (hello, spreadsheet mode), your default mode network—where creativity lives—gets suppressed. It's like trying to have a brainstorming session whilst your internal perfectionist is stood behind you with a red pen.
Why Creative Minds Can't Filter Out the "Irrelevant"
Ever wonder why some people seem to notice patterns and connections that others miss entirely? Creative individuals often have something called "attenuated latent inhibition"—essentially, they're rubbish at filtering out information that others would dismiss as irrelevant.
Whilst this might sound like a disadvantage (and it can feel overwhelming at times), it's actually a superpower for creative thinking. That "random" observation about how office lighting affects your mood, or the connection between a song lyric and a business problem—these aren't distractions, they're raw materials for innovation.
This pattern also explains why neurodivergent minds, particularly those with ADHD, often show enhanced creativity. The same neural differences that make traditional focus challenging can create unique pathways for connecting disparate ideas.
How Survival Mode Kills Your Creative Brain
Here's where modern life becomes the villain in our creativity story. When your nervous system is stuck in survival mode—whether from work stress, financial pressure, or constant digital stimulation—it prioritises immediate threat response over creative exploration.
Your brain literally can't afford to daydream when it thinks you're in danger. The creative networks shut down, and you're left in a state of reactive problem-solving rather than innovative thinking. This isn't a character flaw; it's basic neurobiology.
The challenge is that many of us are living in chronic low-level survival mode without realising it. The ping of notifications, the pressure of back-to-back meetings, the financial stress of modern life—all of these keep our nervous systems on high alert, blocking access to our creative capacities.
## The AI Paradox: Are We Outsourcing Our Creativity?
As we increasingly rely on AI tools to handle cognitive tasks, we face an uncomfortable question: are we accidentally rewiring our brains for the worse? When AI handles the heavy lifting of information processing, research, and even creative ideation, what happens to our neural pathways?
Saskia raises concerns about cognitive effort reduction. Just as GPS navigation has been shown to affect our spatial reasoning abilities, constant AI assistance might be weakening the very neural networks we need for independent creative thinking.
This doesn't mean AI is inherently bad, but it does mean we need to be intentional about maintaining our cognitive abilities whilst leveraging these powerful tools.
Your Environment Is Rewiring Your Brain
The emerging field of neuroaesthetics reveals something remarkable: your physical environment doesn't just affect your mood—it literally changes how your brain functions. The lighting in your workspace, the colours on your walls, the clutter on your desk—all of these are either supporting or sabotaging your creative networks.
Research shows that certain environmental factors can enhance neuroplasticity (your brain's ability to form new connections) whilst others can suppress it. This means designing creativity-supportive environments isn't just about comfort—it's about optimising your brain's hardware for innovative thinking.
Practical Steps to Unlock Your Creative Networks
The good news? You can actively rewire your approach to creativity. Here are evidence-based strategies:
Regulate your nervous system first. Use breathwork, movement, or meditation to shift from survival mode to a state where creativity can emerge. Your creative networks literally cannot function when you're chronically stressed.
Create psychological safety. Whether at work or in personal projects, creativity requires an environment where "failure" is reframed as learning. Your brain needs to feel safe to explore unconventional ideas.
Design your environment intentionally. Consider lighting, colour, texture, and organisation in your creative spaces. Small changes can have significant neurological impacts.
Protect your default mode network. Schedule periods of unstimulated time—no phones, no tasks, just mental wandering. This is where creative connections form.
Practice selective attention. Instead of trying to focus harder, learn to direct your attention more skilfully, allowing relevant "irrelevant" information in whilst filtering out genuine distractions.
Reclaiming Your Creative Birthright
Creativity isn't a talent you either have or don't have—it's a fundamental brain function that modern life has systematically suppressed. By understanding the neuroscience behind creative thinking and making intentional changes to our environment and habits, we can reclaim this essential human capacity.
The question isn't whether you're creative. The question is: what's your environment doing to either nurture or suppress the creative networks that are already there, waiting to be activated?
Your brain is already wired for creativity. Now it's time to create the conditions where it can finally flourish.
---
Sources & Further Reading:
[1] Wheeler, S. (2024). Neuroscience communication research on public engagement and accurate messaging
[2] Studies on the intersection of AI and neuroscience in mental health applications
[3] Academic research on neuroplasticity, creativity networks, and environmental neuroscience
[4] Neuroaesthetics research on how design impacts brain function and wellbeing
