How stress influences creativity in game-based situations: analysis of stress hormones, negative emotions, and working memory

Yu-chu Yeh, Guey-jen Lai, Chun Fu Lin, Chung-wei Lin, Hua-chun Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
1173 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study aims to integrate neuroscientific techniques into a behavioral experimental design to investigate how stress stimuli may influence stress hormones and negative emotions, subsequently affecting working memory (WM) and creativity in game-based situations. Ninety-six college students participated in this study, in which a game-based experiment lasting 90 min was employed. The main findings were that (1) the employed stress stimuli influence creativity during gaming through two routes: enhancing creativity through cortisol concentration and WM and decreasing creativity by provoking promotion-focused negative emotions (frustration and anger); and (2) the subjective negative emotions and objective cortisol responses do not consistently predict WM and creativity in game-based situations. Accordingly, appropriate challenges or stressors that help increase the cortisol concentration to an attentional level without provoking a strong sense of promotion-focused negative emotions should be considered when designing games aimed at teaching creativity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)143-153
JournalComputers & Education
Volume81
Early online date5 Oct 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2015

Keywords

  • Improving classroom teaching
  • Interactive learning environments
  • Interdisciplinary projects
  • Post-secondary education
  • Teaching/learning strategies

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