Fascinating…

… in a test of originality, subjects were asked to generate items in response to a cue. There were three conditions: in one, they had to respond immediately; in the second, after a few minutes’ conscious thought; and in the third, after being distracted for a few minutes on another task. The most creative and original answers came from the group that had been distracted.

McGilchrist, Iain . The Matter With Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions and the Unmaking of the World (p. 1059). Perspectiva Press. Kindle Edition.