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Firmin_51932100_2023.pdf
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- There has been a recent surge of interest in psychedelic substances, giving rise to what is now termed the "psychedelic renaissance”. Consequently, a growing number of individuals and professionals have turned to these substances to enhance their creativity. Despite the growing interest surrounding the relationship between psychedelics and the creative process, there has been a notable absence of research exploring the connection between psychedelics and the actual creative output. To address this void, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between LSD and the resultant creative product. Additionally, the study explores the impact of LSD consumption on the technical quality, aesthetic appeal and abstraction levels of artworks created before and after ingesting LSD. It was hypothesized that artworks produced while under the influence of LSD would exhibit heightened creativity, aesthetic appeal and abstraction along with diminished technicality. One hundred and forty paintings from twenty artists who participated in Dr. Janiger's study spanning the 1950s to the 1970s were evaluated by five raters. The findings lend support to the notion that LSD intake enhances abstraction levels while concurrently reducing the technical finesse of artworks. However, the present results do not support the hypothesis that LSD enhances creativity or aesthetic appeal. These outcomes suggest that while LSD might not directly enhance artistic creativity and aesthetics, it does induce a shift in artistic style, characterized by augmented abstraction and reduced technique. This study takes a pioneering step in unraveling the intricate interplay between LSD and creative output thus encouraging additional research. We delve into potential explanations for these findings in the ensuing discussion.