When those who study how inventive thinking, an indispensable element in the scientific process towards a more sustainable world, is formed, they … cheat
To face and overcome the challenges of our journey towards a more sustainable world, scientific and technological innovation is essential. For this, we need not only a solid scientific basis and an impeccable experimental method, but – first and foremost – lots and lots of creativity. And when it turns out that one of the world’s greatest experts in the study of creativity is conducting research that is a little too… creative, things get complicated. But let’s go in order.
The birth of a successful cognitive psychologist
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Professor Lorenza Colzato. At the origin of her international fame in the scientific world, but also in the media, is a brilliant career, full of pioneering studies on the functioning of the human brain and the mechanisms that produce thought and reasoning.
Lorenza was born in Bolzano and developed a deep interest in the mind from a young age, with a particular passion for creativity. In 1999 she graduated in Clinical Psychology in Padua and later specialised in Cognitive Psychology, the branch of science that studies how the brain processes information, forms thoughts and develops new ideas. After moving to the Netherlands, Colzato continued her academic career at the University of Leiden, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities. In 2005, she was awarded a doctorate in social and behavioural sciences and became an assistant professor of cognitive psychology the following year.
Prof. Colzato quickly gained scientific fame for her innovative studies on the brain and thinking. In particular, her research focuses on how different mental states and psychological conditions influence people’s ability to generate innovative ideas.
One of the most provocative themes explored by Colzato concerns how physical activity, meditation, and the intake of certain foods or substances can stimulate creative thinking.
His ideas find fertile ground in the media, always hungry for hot news on how to achieve mental and physical well-being. All the more so if, as in this case, a very interesting substance is added as a condiment.
The most discussed studies: meditation with a little help
One of Colzato’s most famous studies explores the link between meditation and divergent thinking, the ability to find solutions outside the usual patterns of reasoning. In his experiments, participants are asked to practise meditation before engaging in activities that require creative thinking. The results seem to confirm the hypothesis that meditation helps to ‘free the mind’, improving cognitive performance. And so far, so good. But our prof doesn’t stop there.
In another, even more controversial study, Colzato and his team investigate the effect of microdoses of lysergic acid diethylamide (better known as LSD) on the development of original ideas.
The underlying hypothesis is that very small amounts of the well-known psychedelic substance could activate brain circuits that promote lateral thinking and creativity, but without causing the hallucinogenic effects – and stupor – produced by a full dose. The results of the study seem to confirm that a little acid at breakfast could actually turn you into a 21st century Leonardo or Picasso. Of course, all this is enough to attract – and then trigger – the attention of the media, who see in her a pioneer of new approaches to stimulate the brain.
Something doesn’t add up: first doubts
As with many stories of great scientific discoveries, there is a point at which things start to seem… too good to be true. Some of Colzato’s colleagues begin to notice anomalies in his data: too many perfect results, too much consistency. And, anyone who has ever conducted research knows that perfection is never a good friend of science. Even the results of the most scrupulous experiments in the ‘hard sciences’, such as physics or computer science (not to mention chemistry), are always affected by a bit of ‘noise’: by data that insist on deviating – however slightly – from the elegant theoretical line. In psychology, where human behaviour and the myriad internal and external factors are more difficult to predict and control, it is even rarer to obtain such perfect results.
Colleagues and scientific reviewers begin to take a closer look at the Italian psychologist’s work and notice that some of her experiments seem difficult to replicate. In fact, one of the most frequently used techniques in the peer review of scientific results is ‘replication’, which consists of repeating an experiment to see if the same results are obtained. Well, no matter how hard they try, several research groups fail to replicate Colzato’s results, especially those related to the link between LSD microdoses and effective creative thinking.
And let’s draw a veil over those researchers who, not getting results with micro-doses of LSD, may have thought to experiment better… by increasing them a little. In the name of science, mind you. And afterwards, do you know what brainstorming comes up?
But let’s get serious again: in academia, when an experiment cannot be replicated, it cannot be validated by the mechanism of falsification (‘if I cannot prove that it is false, then it could be correct’). And, at that point, problems arise.
The official investigation and career collapse
Suspicions about Colzato’s work do not remain confined to a few murmurs in university corridors. In 2019, Leiden University opens a formal investigation into the cognitive psychologist’s work, and focuses in particular on the most controversial studies, including those on meditation and the famous LSD microdoses.
The investigation reveals that data has been manipulated in numerous studies to obtain the desired results. Among the most serious examples is the work examining the effect of meditation on lateral thinking. In this case, investigations reveal that some data were duplicated and modified to support the original hypothesis. Furthermore, in the study on the use of LSD, it emerges that the results obtained have been tweaked to appear statistically significant. Other publications show the repeated use of data samples already collected in previous experiments, without correctly indicating them. These are all clear examples of violation of the ethical and methodological standards of scientific research.
But, as if this were not enough, it also turns out that, in some cases, time was lost in collecting informed consent from participants in experiments, thus violating basic ethical guidelines in scientific research.
Leiden University identifies evidence of scientific fraud in at least 17 of her publications (the final verdict comes in 2021), pointing out anomalies such as duplication of data or altering results to support pre-packaged hypotheses. Colzato is accused of scientific misconduct and, despite her attempts to defend herself, her academic career suffers a severe blow.
Leiden University decides to discontinue all collaboration with her, but the psychologist does not give up. In 2017, she moves to the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, where she is awarded the title of professor by special assignment. However, even here, in 2021, the university revoked her appointment for scientific misconduct. Today, Colzato works as a researcher at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, affiliated to the University of Dresden.
Learning the lesson
Lorenza Colzato’s story is a warning to anyone involved in scientific research. Ambition is a powerful force, but when it overcomes methodological rigour and professional integrity, it can lead to devastating consequences, both personal and collective. His studies, however creative, were based on data that was far too creative, to the point of losing the solidity necessary to be considered reliable. And if you add to that the ambition to ride the media with research on one of the most controversial drugs of the moment, then – sooner or later – there is trouble.