Beer For the Idea
The best time to have a beer (or two) would be when you’re searching for an initial idea.
Because alcohol helps decrease your working memory (making you feel relaxed and less worried about what’s going on around you), you’ll have more brain power dedicated to making deeper connections.
Neuroscientists have studied the “eureka moment” and found that in order to produce moments of insight, you need to feel relaxed so that front brain thinking (obvious connections) can move to the back of the brain (where unique, lateral connections are made) and activate the anterior superior temporal gyrus, a small spot above your right ear responsible for moments of insight.
Researchers found that about five seconds before you have a “eureka moment” there is a large increase in alpha waves that activates the anterior superior temporal gyrus.
These alpha waves are associated with relaxation—which explains why you often get ideas while you’re on a walk, in the shower, or on the toilet.
Alcohol is a substance that relaxes you, so it produces a similar effect on alpha waves and helping us reach creative insights.
Coffee doesn’t necessarily help you access more creative parts of your brain like a couple pints of beer.
