Creativity relies on the ability to perceive and integrate pieces of information, navigate complex representational spaces and connect distant concepts. While cognitive theories emphasize the role of semantic memory networks, the enigmatic link between perception, internal representation, and the creative process remains elusive. This talk examines how low-level perceptual and complex semantic maps are linked and how they relate to associative thinking abilities in humans. Moreover, I will discuss human inter-individual differences in information processing, specifically contrasting neurotypical and ADHD perception to reveal how cognitive variations and boredom influence the reception of creative stimuli. Transferring biological insights to artificial intelligence, the presentation will also demonstrate how psychological frameworks can directly enhance generative models. By translating an evolutionary paradigm into a computational novelty search, I will show how optimizing the initial noise seeds in visual diffusion models fosters innovative outputs without altering the underlying network. Finally, I will present ongoing work with the ‘Städel Museum’ in Frankfurt (Main) on the reception of creative artefacts by mapping the emotional impact of visual art into high-dimensional semantic emotion spaces. Ultimately, this talk reveals how universal mechanisms of signal detection and navigation within representational spaces govern innovation in both biological and artificial systems.