Creativity isn't something you are just born with. It's a...
Dalton (Analyze & Optimize)@Outdoctrination
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Jul 21, 2025
~4 min read
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Creativity isn't something you are just born with.
It's a biological property, and something you can harness to achieve superior creative skills.
Here's how (thread):
It's a biological property, and something you can harness to achieve superior creative skills.
Here's how (thread):
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One research group has proposed a 3 primary color model of emotions and mood based on our most prevalent neurotransmitters.
Norepinephrine: stress, fear, anger, fight or flight.
Dopamine: Joy, reward
Serotonin: punishment, inhibition, sadness, freezing
The key to understand is the serotonin vs dopamine balance.
Too much serotonin and our brains shut down creative processes, go into conservation mode and stop risk taking.
Dopamine is a cue to approach, explore and create.
Dopamine and serotonin not only functionally oppose each other, but they directly lower the synthesis of the other.
Norepinephrine: stress, fear, anger, fight or flight.
Dopamine: Joy, reward
Serotonin: punishment, inhibition, sadness, freezing
The key to understand is the serotonin vs dopamine balance.
Too much serotonin and our brains shut down creative processes, go into conservation mode and stop risk taking.
Dopamine is a cue to approach, explore and create.
Dopamine and serotonin not only functionally oppose each other, but they directly lower the synthesis of the other.
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High brain serotonin prevents exploration and promotes playing it safe.
“activation of serotonergic neurons during foraging in mice promote exploitation of a rewarding patch rather than exploration of an alternative action,”
In other words, the opposite of creativity.
“activation of serotonergic neurons during foraging in mice promote exploitation of a rewarding patch rather than exploration of an alternative action,”
In other words, the opposite of creativity.
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BCAAs are one way to lower serotonin.
These amino acids compete with tryptophan (serotonin precursor) for entry into the brain.
Problem is, they also compete with tyrosine, the dopamine precursor.
Adding in extra tyrosine = high dopamine + low serotonin.
These amino acids compete with tryptophan (serotonin precursor) for entry into the brain.
Problem is, they also compete with tyrosine, the dopamine precursor.
Adding in extra tyrosine = high dopamine + low serotonin.
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Increasing dopamine in general is paramount for promoting creativity.
For instance, giving tyrosine, the precursor of dopamine, promotes deep thinking.
"Food for creativity."
For instance, giving tyrosine, the precursor of dopamine, promotes deep thinking.
"Food for creativity."
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Honing in on the fundamentals of dopamine production is one of the keys to improving creativity.
I've written more about that below. x.com/Outdoctrinatio…
I've written more about that below. x.com/Outdoctrinatio…
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There are some other quick dopamine raising tools you can use to your advantage, which I've listed here:
Dalton (Analyze & Optimize)@Outdoctrination
Euphoria. Energy. Motivation. Creativity.
All a result of DOPAMINE.
Too bad so many of us are low on it.
Here's 5 tools that'll help you boost it (that you've never heard of):
#1 Mucuna Pruriens (velvet bean)
This is the closest you can get to ingesting pure dopamine.
All a result of DOPAMINE.
Too bad so many of us are low on it.
Here's 5 tools that'll help you boost it (that you've never heard of):
#1 Mucuna Pruriens (velvet bean)
This is the closest you can get to ingesting pure dopamine.
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One important brain system to understand is the default mode network.
This is a series of brain regions that are most active under ordinary conditions, essentially when you're in your routine.
➠ Daydreaming
➠ Not thinking at all
➠ Mundane tasks you do on autopilot
etc. are all as a result of the default mode.
This system is the anti-creativity system.
If you can dampen the default mode network, you can release your true creative brain.
This is a series of brain regions that are most active under ordinary conditions, essentially when you're in your routine.
➠ Daydreaming
➠ Not thinking at all
➠ Mundane tasks you do on autopilot
etc. are all as a result of the default mode.
This system is the anti-creativity system.
If you can dampen the default mode network, you can release your true creative brain.
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This is why psychedelics classically promote creativity.
Something like magic mushrooms are known to work in large part by profoundly disrupting the default mode network,
even after the trip is over.
But there are other ways of accomplishing this same effect.
Something like magic mushrooms are known to work in large part by profoundly disrupting the default mode network,
even after the trip is over.
But there are other ways of accomplishing this same effect.
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Meditation lowers the default mode network, and improves creative performance.
But really, anything that gets you out of your routine will help, as we will see below ⬇️
But really, anything that gets you out of your routine will help, as we will see below ⬇️
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Listening to music also promotes creativity.
Again, I think this is because this is just another tool to break your brain out of the mundane.
The effect seems to be greater for happy / instrumental music.
Again, I think this is because this is just another tool to break your brain out of the mundane.
The effect seems to be greater for happy / instrumental music.
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Being in nature stimulates creativity.
Nature has multiple tangible effects on stress and other physical metrics.
It also helps mental processes like creativity.
Nature has multiple tangible effects on stress and other physical metrics.
It also helps mental processes like creativity.
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Nicotine also reduces the default mode network.
This is because nicotine acts on the cholinergic system in the brain - known to be responsible for sustained attention.
Some other tools that can support this system:
• Choline
• B1
• B2
• B5
• B9
• B12
• Glycine
• Methionine
• Creatine
There are also other cholinergics like alpha GPC, Alpha GPC, CDP-Choline, ALCAR and more.
This is because nicotine acts on the cholinergic system in the brain - known to be responsible for sustained attention.
Some other tools that can support this system:
• Choline
• B1
• B2
• B5
• B9
• B12
• Glycine
• Methionine
• Creatine
There are also other cholinergics like alpha GPC, Alpha GPC, CDP-Choline, ALCAR and more.
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Activation of the vagus nerve promotes creativity.
The vagus nerve is the primary parasympathetic nerve, and also uses the cholinergic system to mediate its signaling.
Some ways to activate it would be to practice humming, deep breathing practices, and binaural beats.
The vagus nerve is the primary parasympathetic nerve, and also uses the cholinergic system to mediate its signaling.
Some ways to activate it would be to practice humming, deep breathing practices, and binaural beats.
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Creativity is ultimately downstream of your overall health.
If you want some help in optimizing your health, schedule a free call with us here
go.prism.miami/consultation
If you want some help in optimizing your health, schedule a free call with us here
go.prism.miami/consultation
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For example, exercise can stimulate creativity.
Exercise has known beneficial effects on promoting neurogenesis, as well as blood flow to the brain.
It's an excellent way to incorporate some more novelty into your life, which will enhance creativity.
Exercise has known beneficial effects on promoting neurogenesis, as well as blood flow to the brain.
It's an excellent way to incorporate some more novelty into your life, which will enhance creativity.
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Stress impairs creativity.
Controlling stress is vital here. More on that below.
Controlling stress is vital here. More on that below.
Dalton (Analyze & Optimize)@Outdoctrination
High cortisol, anxiety, and can’t sleep? This is for you.
This is the ULTIMATE GUIDE to STRESS - the signs, the biological mechanisms and what to do about it:
This is the ULTIMATE GUIDE to STRESS - the signs, the biological mechanisms and what to do about it:
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Creativity is more associated with "relaxed" brain states than highly active ones.
Thus, while things like caffeine and other stimulants can enhance creativity through dopamine,
it's important to not get too overstimulated in the process.
Thus, while things like caffeine and other stimulants can enhance creativity through dopamine,
it's important to not get too overstimulated in the process.
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Things like L-Theanine and GABA can both increase alpha waves.
These are the waves that represent relaxed alertness.
This is the creative state:
➜ High energy
➜ Relaxed
➜ Low stress
These are the waves that represent relaxed alertness.
This is the creative state:
➜ High energy
➜ Relaxed
➜ Low stress
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In summary, the KEYS for creativity:
➜ Low serotonin
➜ High dopamine
➜ Low stress
➜ Relaxed brain state (alpha waves)
➜ Getting out of your routine (default mode network)
Vagus nerve activation, cholinergics, theanine, going in nature, traveling, and exercise are among the things that help the most.
➜ Low serotonin
➜ High dopamine
➜ Low stress
➜ Relaxed brain state (alpha waves)
➜ Getting out of your routine (default mode network)
Vagus nerve activation, cholinergics, theanine, going in nature, traveling, and exercise are among the things that help the most.
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Thank you for reading through this. Give this tweet below a repost if you found it interesting to spread the message.
Dalton (Analyze & Optimize)@Outdoctrination
Creativity isn't something you are just born with.
It's a biological property, and something you can harness to achieve superior creative skills.
Here's how (thread):
It's a biological property, and something you can harness to achieve superior creative skills.
Here's how (thread):
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