Changes in Brain Activation Associated with Spontaneous Improvization and Figural Creativity After Design-Thinking-Based Training: A Longitudinal fMRI Study

Abstract

Creativity is widely recognized as an essential skill for entrepreneurial success and adaptation to daily-life demands. However, we know little about the neural changes associated with creative capacity enhancement. For the first time, using a prospective, randomized control design, we examined longitudinal changes in brain activity associated with participating in a five-week design-thinking-based Creative Capacity Building Program (CCBP), when compared with Language Capacity Building Program (LCBP). Creativity, an elusive and multifaceted construct, is loosely defined as an ability to produce useful/appropriate and novel outcomes. Here, we focus on one of the facets of creative thinking-spontaneous improvization. Participants were assessed pre- and post-intervention for spontaneous improvization skills using a game-like figural Pictionary-based fMRI task. Whole-brain group-by-time interaction revealed reduced task-related activity in CCBP participants (compared with LCBP participants) after training in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior/paracingulate gyrus, supplementary motor area, and parietal regions. Further, greater cerebellar-cerebral connectivity was observed in CCBP participants at post-intervention when compared with LCBP participants. In sum, our results suggest that improvization-based creative capacity enhancement is associated with reduced engagement of executive functioning regions and increased involvement of spontaneous implicit processing.

Creative constraints: Brain activity and network dynamics underlying semantic interference during idea production

“…We also found common activation of the cerebellum and subcortical structures (e.g., caudate) in the generative conditions compared to the control condition. Although we did not make predictions about the involvement of these regions, their activation is consistent with recent neuroimaging research on creative cognition, such as studies implicating the cerebellum (Saggar et al, 2015, in press) and caudate (Jauk et al, 2015). Notably, the only difference that emerged across generative conditions when contrasted with the control task was unique activation of the right anterior insula during constrained generation.…”

Enhancing Innovation and Underlying Neural Mechanisms Via Cognitive Training in Healthy Older Adults

“…Third, previous innovation-connectivity patterns were identified in younger adults (ages 19–36 years), which may not necessarily be comparable to an older group (ages 56–75 years). Last, we were interested in neural changes following a 12-week CT protocol whereas many of the prior findings examined a single time point, with a few exceptions involving young adults (Fink et al, 2015 ; Saggar et al, 2016 ). We conclude that the functional changes in two neural networks relative to innovative cognition following training leaves a footprint in the resting state networks to better support enhanced innovative cognition in the aging brain.…”

“…This cognitive domain is of interest in older adults due to its centrality to human cognition, intellect, decision-making, life achievement, resilience and psychological well-being (McFadden and Basting, 2010 ; Li et al, 2015 ; Beaty et al, 2016 ; Heilman, 2016 ; Palmiero et al, 2016 ; Saggar et al, 2016 ). Innovative thinking may be a pivotal cognitive capacity and brain function allowing one to respond effectively to challenging and constantly changing life demands (Saggar et al, 2016 ). Cognitive neuroscientists are becoming increasingly interested in elucidating the domain of innovative thinking, its neurobiological underpinnings; and whether this important capability can be enhanced (Fink et al, 2015 ).…”

Inspired Internal Search: Using Neuroimaging to Understand Design Ideation and Concept Generation With Inspirational Stimuli

“…In a more recent study by Saggar et al, fMRI was used to study creativity during concept generation in a Pictionary-based game [18]. Here, the researchers found increased activation in several brain regions during concept generation compared to control, such as left parietal, right superior frontal, left prefrontal, and cingulate regions [19,18]. These works indicate that fMRI can be beneficial in discovering insights into creative problem solving relevant to design by linking specific features of design decisions to brain activation data.…”