What do bananas, soya and almonds have in common?

Bananas, soya and almonds all contain the amino acid tyrosine, a biochemical precursor of dopamine, which is assumed to drive cognitive control and creativity. And, according to a study published in Psychological Research, consuming tyrosine either via supplements or food can promote creative thinking.

The study is the first to test the effect of tyrosine on thinking. Anecdotal evidence suggests that creative people sometimes use food to overcome mental blocks and to get deeper into a problem, and Steve Jobs often referred to his tyrosine-rich fruit diet as the foundation of his success.

The researchers investigated the effects of an orange juice, to which was added 2 g of tyrosine or placebo, on the two main ingredients of creativity: divergent and convergent styles of thinking.

• Divergent thinking allows many new ideas to be generated. It is measured using the so-called Alternate Uses Task method where participants are required to think up as many uses as possible for a particular object, such as a pen.
• Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is a process whereby one possible solution for a particular problem is generated. This method is measured using the Remote Associates Task, where three unrelated words are presented to the participants, words such as 'time', 'hair' and 'stretch'. The candidates are then asked to identify the common link: in this case, 'long'.

While no effect was discovered on divergent thinking (‘brainstorming’), the tests showed that the candidates performed better on convergent thinking if they had drunk the juice with tyrosine. The researchers concluded that tyrosine food supplements and tyrosine-rich food can improve our ability to think more deeply.

So, the next time you're struggling to finish a report or study for an exam, it might be worth trying a banana, almond and soy milk smoothie!