Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that is found in our natural foods and plays an important role in our body. It is found in spinach, cheese, fruits and many other foods that we eat every day. Tyrosine increases the production of dopamine, the happiness chemical in our brain. This promotes some important functions of our thinking such as the ability to concentrate, solution orientation and our focus.
Three researchers from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands wanted to take a closer look at the amino acid L-tyrosine and its influence on our brain. As part of a study that looked at food and its influence on creativity, they examined whether tyrosine is an influencing factor on creative thinking.
They investigated whether the amino acid L-tyrosine (TYR) promotes creativity in convergent and divergent brainteasers. The basic assumption was that tyrosine, as a biochemical precursor of dopamine, is able to promote cognitive control and creativity in humans.
Colzato and his team recruited a total of 32 subjects to take part in the study. They should come to a test laboratory in two rounds of examinations and drink orange juice both times. In the first round of the study, the orange juice was supplemented with tyrosine; in the second round, the researchers used a placebo. The subjects were then given the task of solving various puzzles that addressed two main aspects of creative thinking:
- Divergent thinking: This is about finding solutions to simple problems. For example, the idea of what you could do with a pen.
- Convergent thinking: This is about long and complex thinking. For example, thinking about a connection between three words that at first glance have nothing to do with each other.
It was found that there is no clear evidence that tyrosine actually has a positive influence on divergent thinking, in this case brainstorming. However, support for convergent and deeper thinking through tyrosine could be determined. The researchers went on to say that convergent thinking may require greater cognitive control, and that tyrosine may facilitate control of the brain's creative processes.
It can thus be concluded that tyrosine is able to support these processes. Basically, the researchers concluded that the food we eat can actually affect the way we think.
Citation
- Colzato, Lorenza S. et al. “Food for creativity: tyrosine promotes deep thinking.” Psychological Research 79 (2015): 709-714.
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