The present research focused on identifying the influence of cognitive processes in the creative lateral thinking of high school students. The work was developed under the positivist paradigm; it was classified as basic, of explanatory level, with quantitative approach, non-experimental design and cross-sectional. The sample, calculated through probabilistic sampling, consisted of 221 students. Two data collection instruments were used: the cognitive processes questionnaire and the lateral thinking questionnaire, which were subjected to content validity by expert judgment and reliability and internal consistency analysis by Cronbach's alpha, reaching values of 0.908 and 0.802, respectively. The analysis of verification by Spearman's rho obtained was 0.762, which determined the significant influence between cognitive processes and lateral thinking. It was concluded that, if procedures and actions that lead to the acquisition of knowledge in a constructive way and by discovery are practiced, creative and perceptive lateral thinking would be developed; then the individual would exhibit imagination and creative behaviors.