Not only is creativity an individual ability, it’s also influenced by cultural and biological factors.

In modern culture, the word creativity has been synonymous with an elite group of professionals, from dancers to musicians. These individuals are touted for their “natural-born” talent, but is this form of creativity born or bred? In Brain Craft’s latest video, “The Secret to Creativity,” host Vanessa Hill explains letting the mind wander could lead to an unexpected surge of creativity, whether you're a professional or a novice.

On average, humans spend 30 percent of the day getting their creative juices flowing by engaging in mind wandering, according to Brain Craft. Some scientists theorize mind wandering may distract you from what you perceive to be obstacles, or that it may allow your subconscious to keep working on the problem without relying on higher cognitive functions. Mind wandering may also promote the brain's ability to reevaluate the way we look at a problem, allowing you to make connections between two seemingly unrelated things and come up with novel creative solutions.

So, if everyone's mind wanders, why are some people more creative than others?

A study published in the journal PLoS One found genetics may play an integral role in creativity. Families who collectively scored higher on musical aptitude and creativity tests were more likely to have an extra copy of the glucose mutarotase gene. This gene is involved in the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes neural connections. The extra copy increases the production of serotonin and the brain's ability to reuse it.

Researchers also suggest your level of creativity is influenced by personality traits. Risk taking and openness to new experiences have been linked to creativity. However, even if you're not a creative person by nature, this skill can be trained, honed, or taught.

In separate studies, accomplished professional dancers, artists, and musicians were all compared to novices in their fields. During improvisation sessions in which participants were asked to compose a 5-note tune, mentally compose a drawing, or mentally perform a dance, the more experienced professionals actually thought about the task differently, engaging different areas of their brains than the novices.

Creativity is not only an individual ability, but it is also learned. It's influenced by cultural and biological factors. For example, schools teach students how to practice their creative thinking skills by encouraging an open dialogue of more elaborate diverse array of ideas than just a narrow mode of thought in the classroom.

So, go ahead, let your mind wander — and nurture your creativity.