<p>The only study I'm aware of is the following: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Cannabis increased verbal fluency in low creatives to the same level as that of high creatives. Cannabis increased state psychosis-like symptoms in both groups and the high creativity group were significantly higher in trait schizotypy, but this does not appear to be linked to the verbal fluency change. Acute cannabis use increases divergent thinking as indexed by verbal fluency in low creatives.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Regarding whether THC or CBD causes an increase in creativity the authors note that:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A few studies have attempted to objectively investigate whether cannabis increases creativity. Cannabis users produced more original (i.e. statistically infrequent) responses on an associative ability test when intoxicated with the drug compared to users given placebo (Block, Farinpour, &amp; Braverman, 1992). Similarly, verbal fluency was significantly and dose-dependently improved by THC (the active ingredient in cannabis) compared with placebo in healthy volunteers given all treatments (Curran, Brignell, Fletcher, Middleton, &amp; Henry, 2002). In contrast, Tinklenberg, Darley, Roth, Pferbhaum, and Koppel (1978) found that cannabis did not enhance scores in uniqueness, fluency, flexibility or elaboration during an object description task, considered to be a measure of creativity.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810011002856" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Schafer et al. 2012: Investigating the interaction between schizotypy, divergent thinking and cannabis use</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-09T19:53:52.170Z
Interesting. I stutter more but the complexity of my thinking also increases.
Do you know if it is the CBD or THC that causes this? Or the mixture of the 2 because you can buy CBD over the counter where I live. After edit: Yes when I stutter is is when I'm writing. In my edits I see where I say the the or and and usually the smaller words. When I am speaking I find mentally retrieving particular words easier. What do you think? +1
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-09T19:43:06.190Z
2019-03-09T19:50:50.467Z
2019-03-09T19:50:50.467Z
CuriousIndeed
<p>Studies have shown significant reduction in seizures in babies to adults when taking marijuana. I would call that amazing but what does it do in improving cognitive abilities in normal people?</p>
<p>Anecdotal reports across the internet claim that marijuana consumption can aid in creative thinking. Why is that? Is it the Cannabidiol (CBD) a phytocannabinoid (bought over the counter where I live) or the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) a cannabinoid (which is still a misdemeanor) that contributes to creativity?</p>
<p><strong>How can I do a controlled experiment or test to determine which chemical is giving me a mental advantage in creative thinking?</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-29T08:36:26.300Z
Welcome. I've edited the question to make it compatible with our policy that self-help questions, questions on health-related issues, and questions about a specific individual are all off-topic here. By de-individualizing it, it's better off here. Thanks.
AliceD
<cognitive-psychology><psychopharmacology><psychophysics><medication>
How to test whether THC or CBD gives a mental boost?
Muze
# How to test whether THC or CBD gives a mental boost?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-03-09)

Studies have shown significant reduction in seizures in babies to adults when taking marijuana. I would call that amazing but what does it do in improving cognitive abilities in normal people?

Anecdotal reports across the internet claim that marijuana consumption can aid in creative thinking. Why is that? Is it the Cannabidiol (CBD) a phytocannabinoid (bought over the counter where I live) or the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) a cannabinoid (which is still a misdemeanor) that contributes to creativity?

**How can I do a controlled experiment or test to determine which chemical is giving me a mental advantage in creative thinking?**

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, psychopharmacology, psychophysics, medication

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome. I've edited the question to make it compatible with our policy that self-help questions, questions on health-related issues, and questions about a specific individual are all off-topic here. By de-individualizing it, it's better off here. Thanks.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-03-09. Score: 4

The only study I'm aware of is the following:

> Cannabis increased verbal fluency in low creatives to the same level as that of high creatives. Cannabis increased state psychosis-like symptoms in both groups and the high creativity group were significantly higher in trait schizotypy, but this does not appear to be linked to the verbal fluency change. Acute cannabis use increases divergent thinking as indexed by verbal fluency in low creatives.

Regarding whether THC or CBD causes an increase in creativity the authors note that:

> A few studies have attempted to objectively investigate whether cannabis increases creativity. Cannabis users produced more original (i.e. statistically infrequent) responses on an associative ability test when intoxicated with the drug compared to users given placebo (Block, Farinpour, & Braverman, 1992). Similarly, verbal fluency was significantly and dose-dependently improved by THC (the active ingredient in cannabis) compared with placebo in healthy volunteers given all treatments (Curran, Brignell, Fletcher, Middleton, & Henry, 2002). In contrast, Tinklenberg, Darley, Roth, Pferbhaum, and Koppel (1978) found that cannabis did not enhance scores in uniqueness, fluency, flexibility or elaboration during an object description task, considered to be a measure of creativity.

[Schafer et al. 2012: Investigating the interaction between schizotypy, divergent thinking and cannabis use](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810011002856)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Interesting. I stutter more but the complexity of my thinking also increases. Do you know if it is the CBD or THC that causes this? Or the mixture of the 2 because you can buy CBD over the counter where I live. After edit: Yes when I stutter is is when I'm writing. In my edits I see where I say the the or and and usually the smaller words. When I am speaking I find mentally retrieving particular words easier. What do you think? +1  

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