This is a question about the nature of creativity, involving multiple dimensions such as neural structure, cognitive patterns, emotional states, as well as environment and training. We analyze from six perspectives: physical, mathematical, continuity, associative, imaginative, and holistic.



1. Physical Perspective: Brain structure and chemical foundation



  • Well-developed frontal lobe: Especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is the center for innovation, planning, and abstract thinking.


  • Default Mode Network (DMN) active: This is the brain network that is active during rest or daydreaming, often related to sudden bursts of inspiration.


  • Strong neural plasticity: Frequent restructuring of synaptic connections between neurons allows for rapid adaptation to new patterns.


  • Moderate dopamine levels: A suitable amount of dopamine can enhance motivation, curiosity, and learning ability.



2. Mathematical Perspective: Abstraction and Systematization Ability


Innovation is essentially 'restructuring':



  • A new idea can be represented as:



\text{New Idea} = f(\text{Old Ideas}, \text{Novel Combination Rules})



  • Possesses pattern recognition and inductive/deductive reasoning abilities, reflecting 'finding order in chaos' mathematically.



3. Continuity Perspective: Fluency of Thought Flow



  • Ability to achieve a 'Flow' state:


    • Deep focus


    • Blurred sense of time


    • Thought jumps continuously yet remains coherent


  • Transient hypofrontality in the brain allows thinking to break through logical constraints, often seen during peaks of inspiration in artists.



4. Associative Perspective: Cross-domain connections



  • Innovation often stems fromCross-domain analogies and reconstruction:


    • Da Vinci applied anatomical knowledge in his paintings;


    • Tesla envisioned the flow of energy to conceive the alternating current system.


  • Individuals with frequent connections between different areas of the brain (e.g., visual cortex and language cortex, hippocampus and frontal lobe) are better at 'Remote Association.'



5. Imagination Perspective: Ability for Mental Simulation



  • Imagination is essentially an internal 'simulator':


    • Can simulate the future, test scenarios, and construct non-existent situations.


    • The 'mirror neuron system' in the brain helps us simulate the actions or thoughts of others, forming the basis of empathy and imagination.


  • A creative brain can 'transcend the limits of reality' and simulate illogical scenarios, thus breaking free from the constraints of experience.



6. Holistic Perspective: Collaboration of the Mental Ecosystem


A brain that frequently generates new ideas often possesses:



  • Curiosity-driven mechanism: Continually asking questions and probing further.


  • Delayed gratification ability: Willing to think in solitude for long periods rather than rushing for results.


  • A mindset tolerant of failure: Allowing mistakes and encouraging experimentation.


  • Multi-source information input: Interdisciplinary, multilingual, and multicultural backgrounds.


  • Open personality (Openness in the Big Five): Strongly correlated with creativity.



Summary:


In simple terms, a brain that frequently comes up with new ideas or produces beneficial outcomes likely possesses the following formulaic characteristics:



\text{Creative Brain} = \text{Structural Plasticity} + \text{Systemic Associative Ability} + \text{Simulative Predictive Ability} + \text{Information Integration Ability} + \text{Risk-taking and Curiosity}



The question posed to you:



Do you think 'creativity' is closer to an 'ability' or an 'attitude'?


If we want to train a person's brain to become more creative, which aspect should we start with: environment, tools, habits, or thinking models? Where would you begin?