Beer…the problem solver?

Wagner T. Cassimiro "Aranha" / CC

Science usually plays the role of wet blanket when it comes to the topic of how alcohol affects the human body. But a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that downing a couple brewskis may actually improve one’s creative problem-solving abilities. Researchers tested subjects’ prowess at creative problem-solving both when sober and at various stages of intoxication. They found at .07 blood alcohol, people were worse at working memory tasks, but they were better at creative problem-solving tasks. That’s because the alcohol helped study participants access remote ideas, ideas that develop through association not linear analysis. In fact, linear reasoning can keep people focused on ideas they think are important but really aren’t.