Nitrous Oxide and Cognitive Set: Implications of an Altered State of Consciousness for Creative Problem Solving

Nitrous oxide increases the likelihood of breaking a mechanized cognitive set, leading to more efficient solutions, fewer errors, and quicker responses. In a randomized trial with sixty-four dental patients, those given nitrous oxide showed improved cognitive flexibility compared to controls. The altered state allowed subjects to experience aspects of the world normally excluded or ignored. The authors suggest nitrous oxide, along with other altered states like hypnosis, meditation, and guided fantasy, may help resolve creative blocks and could serve as an adjunct to psychotherapy when clients are stuck in rigid cognitive patterns.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To assess the effects of nitrous oxide on mechanized cognitive sets, sixty-four dental patients were randomly divided into four groups. Two control groups verified the procedure's ability to establish and demonstrate a mechanized cognitive set. The other two groups, the Oxygen Group and the Nitrous Oxide Group, demonstrated that nitrous oxide led to an increased probability of breaking cognitive set in favor of a more efficient solution, fewer errors, and quicker responses. It was concluded that the nitrous oxide state permitted the experience of aspects of the world that were excluded or ignored by subjects in a normal state. In this way nitrous oxide and other altered states of consciousness such as hypnosis, meditation, and guided fantasy may be effective in resolving creative blocks. It is suggested that nitrous oxide might be applied in some clinical settings as an adjunct to psychotherapy when a client is blocked by a cognitive set and unable to break the set by traditional methods.