Ideas Finding the Positive in Negative Space Returning to art after 25 years of being a working mother has changed the way I see the world—and myself. Michele Weldon
News in Brief Why Is Hollywood So Liberal? New research provides one possible answer: Highly creative people have a stronger ability to see things from other people's perspectives. Tom Jacobs
News in Brief Listening to Music Impairs Creativity New research suggests that background music, with or without lyrics, "consistently disrupts creative performance." Tom Jacobs
Education Microdosing May Increase Creativity A small study from the Netherlands finds that a few grams of hallucinogenic truffles can stimulate the imagination. Tom Jacobs
Education Women Are Superior Wordsmiths From an Early Age By fourth grade, girls are better than boys at reading and, especially, writing. New research finds this gap then increases as they get older. Tom Jacobs
News in Brief The Link Between Creativity and Emotional Intelligence New research finds the ability to recognize and manage feelings is beneficial to the creative process. Tom Jacobs
News in Brief Making Music Builds a More Efficient Brain There's new evidence that the brains of musicians and bilinguals require less effort to perform cognitive tasks. Tom Jacobs
News in Brief For Artists, Traumatic Childhoods Can Lead to More Intense Creative Experiences Performing can be a way of letting go of one's sense of self. Tom Jacobs
News in Brief Breaking Down Virtual-Reality Walls May Boost Creativity Chinese researchers demonstrate how high-tech tools can be used to harness the power of metaphor. Tom Jacobs
Education Who Am I? You May Find the Answer Abroad. New research finds living abroad helps people discern their true natures from culturally imposed traits and values. Tom Jacobs