A research paper examines the emerging interdisciplinary field connecting creativity and longevity. The researchers suggest focusing on the “mini-c” and “little-c” levels of creativity (everyday creativity) as these are most closely tied to biological processes. They identify several promising research directions, including genetic studies of dopamine and serotonin systems linked to creativity and longevity.
The paper presents experimental evidence using music perception. Participants were exposed to familiar (classical) and unfamiliar (New Age) music. The researchers measured telomere length and telomerase activity—biological markers of longevity—finding different patterns for each type of music. Familiar music generally led to increased telomere length, while unfamiliar music resulted in decreased length but increased telomerase activity.
The authors conclude that this new field holds promise for understanding how creativity and longevity intersect at biological, genetic, and psychological levels. They suggest that certain aspects of creative thinking may contribute to successful aging.
Spivak, Dimitri. (2020). Creativity And Longevity: New Realm Of Research. 81-88.
10.15405/epsbs.2020.12.03.8
