Abstract

This thesis advances the understanding of creativity by exploring its connection with sensory perception, particularly through divergent perception, a concept that extends beyond traditional divergent thinking approaches. It posits that creative ideas emerge not only from how we generate thoughts but fundamentally from how we perceive our environment, emphasizing the role of sensory ambiguity in the creative process. By integrating cognitive neuroscience with music theory, this work examines the relationship between sensory ambiguity and creative perception. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), it investigates the neural underpinnings of divergent perception and its interaction with stimulus properties and individual creativity levels through a series of theoretical work and experimental studies (Chapters 1 to 3). These studies reveal that the brain's processing of ambiguous stimuli and its spontaneous activity are influenced by the individual's level of creativity, particularly when exposed to scale-free visual stimuli. Transitioning from visual to auditory perception, the thesis introduces a musically-inspired model of brain dynamics, emphasizing the creative potential of biosignals and their inherent harmonic complexity for musical exploration (Chapters 4 and 5). This includes the development of a Python toolbox for harmonic analysis of biosignals, designed to facilitate artistic and scientific exploration of the latent harmonies in living systems. Through this interdisciplinary approach, the thesis underscores the significance of divergent perception in creativity and offers new tools and models for investigating the complex interplay between sensory ambiguity, perception, and creative output.