Do Heightened Creative and Cognitive Traits Predict Greater Openness Toward Psilocybin Applications? An Empirical Investigation
Keywords:
psilocybin, creative cognition, cognitive neuroscience, divergent thinking, moral attitudes, predictors of psychedelic opennessAbstract
Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound, largely investigated for its potential positive properties regarding mental health and creative cognition. While theoretical frameworks cover primarily the effects on human cognition post-psilocybin administration, the psychological predispositions before even any administration occurs remain under-researched. Consequently, this research aims to identify possible correlations between cognitive traits and potential openness to hypothetical psilocybin application, as it profoundly helps to determine potential target population in further clinical research. This study utilized an online questionnaire to explore the relationships between cognitive traits (e.g. Perceived Creative Identity, Cognitive Flexibility, Divergent Thinking, Vivid Visual Imagery, Synesthetic Sensory Blending) and Individual Openness toward psilocybin applications in a sample of mostly creative individuals (N = 34). The questionnaire also integrated various items to measure participants' Baseline Awareness about the substance and Moral Acceptance. Results yielded a non-significant relationship between enhanced creativity scores and openness to psilocybin (r = -0.21). Instead, Moral Acceptance (r = 0.42) and Baseline Awareness (r = 0.41) emerged as the primary predictors of interest in psilocybin. Ultimately, these findings indicate that the link between creative potential and psychedelic openness is built rather through the deconstruction of ethical stigmas and fostering factual awareness, than through cognitive ability.
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