Does Cognitive Load Affect Creativity? An Experiment Using a Divergent Thinking Task

A major challenge for organizations in the modern economy is under- standing how to stimulate creativity among their work force, and emerging research continues to emphasize that creativity is subject to myriad factors related to work structure and work environment. The results from a laboratory experiment using a divergent thinking task show that cognitive load induced by a number memorization task significantly re- duces the quantity and variety of creative ideas. Results highlight the importance of work-related stressors and the division of labor when it comes to cultivating creativity