Cocaine en creativiteit

Rationale. Large anecdotal evidence suggests that creative people sometimes use cocaine to help overcome "blocks". Indeed, the acute consumption of cocaine increases synaptic dopamine levels and induces optimism, mild euphoria, excitation, talkativeness, increased energy, and enhanced self-esteem; factors that are known to play a role in the creative process.
Surprisingly, no study, so far, has systematically looked into the acute effect of cocaine on creativity, which fundamental ingredients are convergent and divergent thinking. These two processes are differently affected by mood: positive mood leads to a better divergent thinking, but it lowers convergent thinking.

Objective. The current research proposal is designed to assess the influence of cocaine on creativity.

Study design & interventions. In the study, subjects will receive single doses of placebo and cocaine HCL 300 mg according to a double blind, cross-over design. Creativity will be assessed objectively after administration of cocaine with tasks measuring divergent thinking (e.g. Alternate Uses Task) and convergent thinking (e.g. Remote Associates Task).

It is expected that acute challenges with cocaine will induce two opposing effect on creativity.

That is, cocaine will increase mood leading to enhancement in divergent but not in convergent thinking.

Study population. Participants will be maximally 28 (N=24 + 4 drop-outs) recreational cocaine users (used cocaine on at least 12 separate occasions during the past two years) aged between 18 and 40 years. All participants will be medically screened before inclusion.

Main study parameters. Measures of divergent and convergent thinking.
Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness. Participants will go through 2 sessions of approximately 3 hrs. The load for a subject during a test day is restricted to (1) taking study treatments, (2) taking blood samples, (3) filling out questionnaires and doing computer tasks (60 minutes). During the periods that they are not tested (breaks), they will be seated in a waiting room where they will be in close contact with one of the researchers. In case they experience (medical) complaints, the medical supervisor will be contacted.

It is expected that acute challenges with cocaine will induce two opposing effect on creativity.

That is, cocaine will increase mood leading to enhancement in divergent but not in convergent thinking.

Start in September 2013 with recruitment and data inclusion. Data analysis in September 2014.

In the study, subjects will receive single doses of placebo and cocaine HCL 300 mg according to a double blind, cross-over design. In this placebo-controlled within subject study with 2 conditions, subjects will receive a single dose of cocaine and a placebo on two separate test days.