Inebriation and inspiration? A review of the research on alcohol and creativity

There is a conception that a uniquely positive correlation prevails between the intake of alcohol and creativity, but only a few experimental studies address this. subject. Existing studies together with recent experiments ar e reviewed. This later series of experiments explored whether or not modera te alcohol intoxication (1.0 mi of 100% alcohol/kg body weight) facilitated different phasesof the creative process, i.e. preparation, incubation, ill umination, verification, and restitution. A hypothesis is derived: which po stulates that modest alcohol consumption inhibits aspects of creativity bas ed mainly on the secondary process (preparation, certain parts of illuminat ion, and verification), and disinhibits those based mainly on the primary p rocess (incubation, certain parts of illumination, and restitution).