Aging and Creativity

Cognitive Aging and Creativity examines the effects of cognitive aging on creative functioning. It looks at different aspects of cognition such as working memory, speed of processing, learning efficiency, and retrieval from long term memory. The book goes on to explain the degree to which changes in these different cognitive functions affect creative thinking, and considers the aging-associated changes in personality, life course issues, and motivation that will affect real world creative performance. Using both laboratory-based approaches, which seek to untangle the contributions of different functions to creativity, as revealed by aging effects, and also real world studies of aging effects on every day and on high level creative behaviour, the book concludes with practical implications of age effects on creativity for older people in work, education, and everyday life.

• Explores cognition and creativity through childhood to old age
• Considers creativity from a neuroscientific perspective
• Covers age effects on perception, working memory, and long-term memory
• Examines links between productivity, motivation, and creativity
• Includes case studies of older creatives such as Matisse, Lloyd-Wright, Hawking, and Darwin

Dr Gilhooly's research is in the area of human cognitive psychology, especially thinking and problem solving and effects of age on cognition and well-being. His emphasis recently has been on collaborative work at Brunel University London on aging, dementia, and on decision-making among professionals dealing with elder financial abuse.