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Researchers at the University of Brescia and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart have discovered that creativity and humor share common psychological and neurobiological processes that significantly contribute to the well-being of older adults. Their findings, published in Neuroscience Letters, could pave the way for new activities aimed at improving the quality of life for the elderly.
Aging is often associated with a decline in cognitive function, health issues, and reduced activity levels. However, uncovering mental processes that boost well-being in older adults can be highly beneficial. In this light, the recent study sheds light on how creativity and humor can enhance the lives of the elderly.
“Our recent study belongs to a line of research aimed at investigating the cognitive resources still available to elderly people and understanding how such resources can support well-being,” said Alessandro Antonietti, co-author of the paper. He added that while aging does affect some aspects of cognitive functioning, creativity and humor remain largely intact.
Previous studies have examined the neural underpinnings of creativity and humor by asking participants to engage in tasks linked to these processes while monitoring their brain activity. These tasks often involved creative thinking exercises and questionnaires about funny personal experiences or jokes.
“Once a relationship is established between the two domains (creativity and humor), we recognize it as a fact, but we do not understand why they are related,” Antonietti explained. “In our paper, we proposed some conjectures, supported by existing theories, about the reasons behind the empirically supported association between creativity and humor.”
Both creativity and humor involve stepping outside one’s usual viewpoint, adopting new perspectives, and uncovering new meanings. This mental flexibility, or “divergent thinking,” helps older individuals cope with difficulties and biological changes, enabling them to adapt their behaviors to the constraints they face and recognize the challenges and opportunities of aging.
“We showed that divergent thinking, which allows individuals to explore new possibilities and not merely replicate common responses, is still present in the elderly,” Antonietti said. “This thinking can be used to manage everyday life problems and the existential challenges associated with aging.”
This study delivers an encouraging message to those who fear that aging only brings losses and a decline in health and well-being. It highlights that creative skills are not necessarily disrupted by neurological pathologies commonly linked to aging, emphasizing the importance of focusing on preserved or even enhanced abilities.
The research suggests that fostering mental flexibility can significantly enhance well-being among older adults. Moving forward, these findings could inform the development of new activities and training programs aimed at promoting this mental ability.
“We are now working on devising exercises and advice that are contextualized and closely related to the actual activities the elderly engage in as part of their everyday life,” Antonietti added. “This is crucial for two reasons: first, because the motivation to carry out the exercises and apply the suggestions is higher if the person understands their usefulness; and second, because the transfer from the training setting to real life is more likely if the situations addressed in the training program resemble those of real life.”
The study by Antonietti and his colleagues underscores the importance of creativity and humor in aging, offering a promising avenue for enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
More information: Carlo Cristini et al., “Creativity and humor in the elderly: Shared mechanisms and common functions to promote well-being,” Neuroscience Letters (2024).
