Creative Potential Peaks During Ovulation: A By‐Product of Physiological Arousal

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dc.abstract.enRecent studies suggest that women's divergent thinking, an indicator of creative potential, peaks during ovulation, potentially as a signal to attract mates. However, given that arousal is a key factor facilitating creative cognition, this increase may be a by-product of general heightened arousal during ovulation. This hypothesis has not been fully explored, as most research relies on self-reported measures of arousal, which is a significant limitation. Thus, the role of arousal in linking ovulation to divergent thinking remains unclear. To address this question, we conducted an intraindividual study measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) as a physiological indicator of arousal. Women of reproductive age (N = 69) participated in four sessions involving divergent thinking tasks across different phases of their menstrual cycle. Results indicate that electrodermal reactivity mediates the relationship between menstrual cycle phases and the originality of ideas. Additionally, reducing arousal through relaxation during ovulation decreased idea originality. These findings support the hypothesis that increased state-dependent creative potential during ovulation may be a by-product of heightened arousal.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Sopocie
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorGałasińska-Grygorczuk, Katarzyna
dc.contributor.authorOlszanowski, Michał
dc.contributor.authorTołopiło, Aleksandra
dc.contributor.authorFrankowska, Natalia
dc.contributor.authorJachlewski, Gniewomir
dc.contributor.authorSzymków-Sudziarska, Aleksandra
dc.date.access2026-06-02
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-29T12:55:36Z
dc.date.available2026-10-29T12:55:36Z
dc.date.created2026-05-08
dc.date.issued2026-06-02
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> Recent studies suggest that women's divergent thinking, an indicator of creative potential, peaks during ovulation, potentially as a signal to attract mates. However, given that arousal is a key factor facilitating creative cognition, this increase may be a by‐product of general heightened arousal during ovulation. This hypothesis has not been fully explored, as most research relies on self‐reported measures of arousal, which is a significant limitation. Thus, the role of arousal in linking ovulation to divergent thinking remains unclear. To address this question, we conducted an intraindividual study measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) as a physiological indicator of arousal. Women of reproductive age ( <jats:italic>N</jats:italic>  = 69) participated in four sessions involving divergent thinking tasks across different phases of their menstrual cycle. Results indicate that electrodermal reactivity mediates the relationship between menstrual cycle phases and the originality of ideas. Additionally, reducing arousal through relaxation during ovulation decreased idea originality. These findings support the hypothesis that increased state‐dependent creative potential during ovulation may be a by‐product of heightened arousal. </jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.issue2
dc.description.physical1-9
dc.description.sdgNoSDGsAreRelevantForThisPublication
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume60
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/jocb.70117
dc.identifier.eissn2162-6057
dc.identifier.issn0022-0175
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2704
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jocb.70117
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enarousal
dc.subject.encreative thinking
dc.subject.endivergent thinking
dc.subject.enovulation
dc.subject.enovulatory cycle
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleCreative Potential Peaks During Ovulation: A By‐Product of Physiological Arousal
dc.title.journalThe Journal of Creative Behavior
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle