Non-invasive brain stimulation, interactivity, and creativity

The neuroscience of creativity has implicated the right temporal lobe in the production of insights in various creative problem-solving tasks. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) studies provide data that support this hypothesis, with participants producing more creative solutions when the right temporal lobe is stimulated rather than when the left temporal lobe is (e.g., Chi & Snyder, 2011). This doctoral research project will extend this work by investigating how such a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure can improve creative problem-solving with a range of different tasks (verbal, visuo-spatial, numerical). In addition, the studies will seek to determine how the degree of interactivity moderates the effectiveness of the brain stimulation. Interacting with a physical model of the solution changes how participants engage with the task (e.g., Vallée-Tourangeau & March, 2020). In addition to the non-invasive brain stimulation, the research employs a mixed methodology, combing experimental manipulations (namely, stimulation location and interactivity) as well as video recording of participants as they engage with the problem-solving tasks, affording the granular coding of verbal protocol and actions (e.g., Vallée-Tourangeau et al., 2024). The department of psychology at Kingston University is home to researchers with expertise in non-invasive brain stimulation and creativity; it also has the tDCS equipment required to conduct this research. The doctoral researcher will thus gain experience with tDCS, experimental methods and qualitative analyses (using ELAN). 

Funding

The faculty has been committed to supporting all postgraduate research students, for example by helping to fund conference attendance. We hope to continue with such funding initiatives in the future.

Applications

Applications accepted all year round. Intakes are in October 2024 and March 2025

How to apply for a research degree (PhD, Professional Doctorate, MPhil, MA/MSc by Research) – Kingston University London