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If you feel creatively blocked, have a beer!

At least, that's what one study from the University of Graz in Austria concluded, and I'm not about to argue.

"Consumption of a low dose of alcohol tended to impair executive control but facilitated creative problem solving," said psychologist Mathias Benedek, who led the study, according to Metro.

In their experiment, which was documented in the scientific journal Consciousness and Cognition, the experts took a group and gave half of them a beer with 5.2 percent alcohol, while the others got a 0.5 percent lager. The 5.2 percenters scored an average of six out of 10 on creativity tests, while the other group scored an average of four.

In the study, 70 young adults took three tests, including two designed to measure different types of creative thinking, notes Pacific Standard.

In one of those tests, they were given three words and told to come up with a fourth word that connects all three of them in an unexpected way (for example, one might say the word "cheese" when given "cottage," "blue" and "cake").

In another test they were told to devise creative uses for everyday items, such as an umbrella or a shoe.

The slightly buzzed people did way better at the association task, though they both performed about the same at the unexpected uses one. Pretty neat, huh?

According to the researchers, getting just a little bit toasty "may facilitate certain aspects of creative cognition, while not affecting others," reports Pacific Standard.

Why's that? They say that people often get caught up on little details or committed to the wrong approach at early stages of creative problem-solving.

"Alcohol may reduce fixation effects by loosening the focus of attention," Benedek and his colleagues wrote.

However, there's a catch, just like with all good news.

"Beneficial effects are likely restricted to very modest amounts of alcohol, whereas excessive alcohol consumption typically impairs creative productivity," cautions the study, according to Metro.

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If you feel creatively blocked, have a beer!

At least, that's what one study from the University of Graz in Austria concluded, and I'm not about to argue.

"Consumption of a low dose of alcohol tended to impair executive control but facilitated creative problem solving," said psychologist Mathias Benedek, who led the study, according to Metro.

In their experiment, which was documented in the scientific journal Consciousness and Cognition, the experts took a group and gave half of them a beer with 5.2 percent alcohol, while the others got a 0.5 percent lager. The 5.2 percenters scored an average of six out of 10 on creativity tests, while the other group scored an average of four.

In the study, 70 young adults took three tests, including two designed to measure different types of creative thinking, notes Pacific Standard.

In one of those tests, they were given three words and told to come up with a fourth word that connects all three of them in an unexpected way (for example, one might say the word "cheese" when given "cottage," "blue" and "cake").

In another test they were told to devise creative uses for everyday items, such as an umbrella or a shoe.

The slightly buzzed people did way better at the association task, though they both performed about the same at the unexpected uses one. Pretty neat, huh?

According to the researchers, getting just a little bit toasty "may facilitate certain aspects of creative cognition, while not affecting others," reports Pacific Standard.

Why's that? They say that people often get caught up on little details or committed to the wrong approach at early stages of creative problem-solving.

"Alcohol may reduce fixation effects by loosening the focus of attention," Benedek and his colleagues wrote.

However, there's a catch, just like with all good news.

"Beneficial effects are likely restricted to very modest amounts of alcohol, whereas excessive alcohol consumption typically impairs creative productivity," cautions the study, according to Metro.

Turns Out Drinking Beer Boosts Your Creativity

If you feel creatively blocked, have a beer!

At least, that's what one study from the University of Graz in Austria concluded, and I'm not about to argue.

"Consumption of a low dose of alcohol tended to impair executive control but facilitated creative problem solving," said psychologist Mathias Benedek, who led the study, according to Metro.

In their experiment, which was documented in the scientific journal Consciousness and Cognition, the experts took a group and gave half of them a beer with 5.2 percent alcohol, while the others got a 0.5 percent lager. The 5.2 percenters scored an average of six out of 10 on creativity tests, while the other group scored an average of four.

In the study, 70 young adults took three tests, including two designed to measure different types of creative thinking, notes Pacific Standard.

In one of those tests, they were given three words and told to come up with a fourth word that connects all three of them in an unexpected way (for example, one might say the word "cheese" when given "cottage," "blue" and "cake").

In another test they were told to devise creative uses for everyday items, such as an umbrella or a shoe.

The slightly buzzed people did way better at the association task, though they both performed about the same at the unexpected uses one. Pretty neat, huh?

According to the researchers, getting just a little bit toasty "may facilitate certain aspects of creative cognition, while not affecting others," reports Pacific Standard.

Why's that? They say that people often get caught up on little details or committed to the wrong approach at early stages of creative problem-solving.

"Alcohol may reduce fixation effects by loosening the focus of attention," Benedek and his colleagues wrote.

However, there's a catch, just like with all good news.

"Beneficial effects are likely restricted to very modest amounts of alcohol, whereas excessive alcohol consumption typically impairs creative productivity," cautions the study, according to Metro.