Motor creativity: the roles of attention breadth and working memory in a divergent doing task |
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| Authors: | Alexander Moraru Daniel Memmert John van der Kamp |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Cognitive and Team/Racket Sport Research, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany;2. Research Institute MOVE Amsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;3. Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China |
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| Abstract: | We evaluated the dual-pathway model to creativity in a motor context. The model describes separate flexibility and persistence pathways that are affected differently by breadth of attention and working memory. Motor creativity was tested using a divergent doing task. In Experiment 1 participants performed the divergent doing task after attention was broadened, narrowed or not manipulated. In Experiment 2, the divergent doing task was performed with a low or high working memory load. We found that a broad attention increased flexibility but not persistence. Also originality was unaffected. Taxing working memory did not affect persistence, flexibility or originality. The results provide partial support for the dual-pathway model in motor creativity. Discusion focusses on increased demands for the appropriatness of a solution in divergent doing relative to divergent thinking and to degree to which this implies a more general shortcoming of the dual-pathway model. |
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| Keywords: | Creativity motor creativity breadth of attention dual pathway working memory |
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