Fostering Creativity with Gamification

Fostering Creativity with Gamification

Fostering Creativity with Gamification

Fostering Creativity is an essential aspect of any work environment, not only to remain competitive in the marketplace but also for the overall success and well-being of the organization.

However, with the mundane and routine nature of today’s corporate environment, it can be challenging to encourage creative and innovative thinking in the workplace. In order to solve this problem, we must first have a basic understanding of where creative ideas come from and how they manifest in the brain.  

Contrary to previous notions that fostering creativity is a purely spontaneous process, increasing evidence indicates that creativity requires cognitive effort and functions as a dynamic interplay between the brain’s memory, default network and control systems. 

Roger E. Beaty, Ph.D. explains in his 2020 article “The Creative Mind” that “without memory, our minds would be a blank slate—not conducive to creativity, which requires knowledge and expertise. But without mental control, we wouldn’t be able to push thinking in new directions and avoid getting stuck on what we already know.” 

Creative thinking is supported by our ability to remember the past and imagine the future. From planning an upcoming meeting to envisioning yourself sitting on a beach with a margarita in your hand in anticipation of an upcoming vacation, we routinely use our imagination to visualize the future. 

What is interesting is that the same brain region that is used when envisioning a future is also involved in remembering the past: the hippocampus. While the hippocampus is not solely responsible for the formation of creative or innovative ideas, research suggests that it plays a vital role in the creative process. 

Furthermore, research shows that activating the hippocampus through certain conscious activities can increase an individual’s ability to think creatively. GoodGames game-like experiences are particularly effective at doing just that!

Gamification increase their ability to think creatively

Gamification has been proven to activate the hippocampus as well as trigger the release of dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. This combination not only makes the participant feel good but also allows them to increase their ability to think creatively. 

Additionally, it reduces stress, increases one’s capacity to process information, and mitigates the effects of cognitive overload. This breaks participants out of the mundane and routine nature of today’s corporate environment and biologically enhances their brain’s ability to think creatively.

All of the GoodGames game-like experiences have a gamified approach to creative and brainstorming discussions that not only make collaboration and exchanging ideas fun, but keep these ultra-important sessions moving in a constructive direction.

Fostering creativity with gamification leads to more productive sessions for businesses or events. If you want to know more details on how we can help your company, conventions, or conference contact us now and we will get back to you right away!