3 Scientific Studies That Prove You’re More Creative Than You Think

Let me guess.

You’ve got a dozen half-finished songs collecting dust in a folder called “Almost.” You hear something great on Spotify and think, I’ll never write something that good. Maybe you even hesitate to call yourself a “real songwriter.”

Here’s the blunt truth:
You’re probably way more creative than you give yourself credit for.

And I don’t mean that in a fuzzy, inspirational-mug kind of way. I mean, science says you are underestimating your originality—and probably leaving great songs on the table because of it.

Let’s break down three studies that will change how you see your creativity—and give you tools to start writing like the creative force you actually are.

1. The Brainstorm Bias: Why You Underrate Your Own Ideas

Study: Miron-Spektor et al., 2020 (INSEAD)

Researchers asked people to come up with creative ideas during brainstorming sessions. Later, those same people rated their own ideas significantly lower than independent reviewers did.

Translation:
The lyric you thought was too cheesy?
The melody you dismissed as “nothing special”?
It might actually be the most original thing you wrote that day.

So why do we do this? Because our brains assume that if something came easily to us, it must be obvious to everyone else, too. That’s false. Your creative fingerprint is unique. What feels “normal” to you might blow someone else’s mind.

To put this into practice:
Try this three-step exercise the next time you write:

1. Write fast. Give yourself 15 minutes to brainstorm as many lyric or title ideas as you can. Don’t stop to judge.
2. Wait 24 hours. Seriously—set a reminder. Give yourself distance.
3. Review and highlight. Mark 3 ideas you’d pitch to someone else. If you can’t pick, send your list to a trusted friend and ask for their top 3.

Chances are, the ones they pick aren’t the ones you would’ve. That’s the point.

2. The NASA Test: You Were a Creative Genius at 5 Years Old

Study: Land & Jarman, 1968 (NASA)

NASA developed a creativity test to identify innovative engineers. Then someone had the brilliant idea to test kids.

The results?
🧠 98% of 5-year-olds scored at “creative genius” levels.
😬 By age 10, that dropped to 30%.
😳 By age 15, just 12%.
😐 By adulthood? A measly 2%.

Let that sink in. You were creative. Then you were taught to doubt it.

We weren’t born boring. We were trained to color inside the lines, ask fewer questions, and stop being weird.

Here’s what to do to retrain that 5-year-old genius:

1. Write like no one’s watching. That lyric that sounds “too weird”? That’s where your gold lives.
2. Use silly prompts. Write a verse about a robot in love or a toaster with stage fright. Don’t judge the output—strengthen the muscle.
3. Share the mess. Post a 30-second draft to Instagram. Email it to a friend. Say, “Here’s a thing I made.” That act alone starts unlearning the fear.

Your imagination didn’t disappear. It just got quiet from years of self-censoring—time to let it talk again.

3. The Creative Brain Lights Up When You Play

Study: Neuroscience News, 2024 – fMRI brain scans of jazz musicians and creative tasks

Scientists studying jazz improvisers found something wild:
When musicians were creating spontaneously, the self-critical part of their brain went dim.
At the same time, the creative idea generator—a brain network called the Default Mode Network—lit up like a Christmas tree.

That’s not poetic. That’s literally what showed up on the brain scans.

So when you’re noodling on your guitar, humming nonsense, or freestyle rhyming about your cat? That’s your brain’s creativity engine in motion.

It only breaks down when your inner critic slams on the brakes.

Use this brain science to your advantage:

Here are 3 steps to get into that brain-friendly “flow” state:

1. Set a 10-minute timer. Pick an instrument, loop a chord progression, and improvise lyrics—even if it’s gibberish.
2. Ban judgment. If your brain says, “This sucks,” remind it you’re in the idea phase. Nothing gets cut yet.
3. Record everything. You can’t edit magic if you don’t capture it. Most of your best material won’t happen in your polished takes—it’ll happen when you weren’t even trying.

Think of it like this:
Creativity is a faucet. The clear water only flows once you let the rusty water run for a bit.

Final Thought: Stop Waiting. Start Stirring.

If you’ve been sitting around waiting for permission to feel “creative enough,” here it is.

🔬 Science proves you’re underestimating your originality.
🧠 Your brain is built to generate great ideas—if you stop interrupting it.
🧒🏽 And you used to be a creative genius. That kid’s still in there.

So write the messy verse. Sing the awkward hook. Finish the “dumb” song.

Odds are, it’s better than you think. And if not? You’re closer to the next one that will be.

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