Creative Brains Show Reduced Mid Frontal Theta

Abstract

Creativity is considered to be the driving force behind innovation and progress, yet the neural signature of creative thought remains elusive. Recently, creative thinking has been associated with dynamics between large-scale intrinsic neural networks. In the current study, we investigated whether fluctuations of activity in the control network is linked to creative thinking. We designed a 'caption this' task in which participants had to provide an original and apt caption to accompany a presented picture while EEG signals were recorded. To assess changing levels of cognitive control we made use of the strong relationship between mid frontal oscillatory activity in the theta range (4-7 HZ) and topdown control. This experimental set-up allowed us to assess the relationship between trial-by-trial changes in neural measures of top-down control and fluctuations in creativity. Results demonstrate that specifically when attention needs to be internally oriented lower levels of top-down control resulted in higher levels of creativity. In addition, increased creativity related to enhanced long-range functional connectivity between occipital and mid frontal cortex when the presented picture was no longer visible. Together, our findings demonstrate that creativity benefits from lower levels of top-down control and enhanced processing of internal information.

Power Spectrum and Connectivity Analysis in EEG Recording during Attention and Creativity Performance in Children

“…Connectivity changes in delta and theta have also been reported [67,68]. Specifically, theta has shown increased fronto-occipital functional connectivity in more creative individuals [68], becoming a band that has been found to be associated with cognitive control [69]. Another interesting work carried out by Razumnikova et al (2009) [57], who found that theta power decreases during figural tasks and increases in verbal ones, compared to baseline.…”

“…In addition, in the latter work, an increase in connectivity in the alpha, beta, and gamma bands was observed with coherence analysis during the creative task. Connectivity changes in delta and theta have also been reported [67,68]. Specifically, theta has shown increased fronto-occipital functional connectivity in more creative individuals [68], becoming a band that has been found to be associated with cognitive control [69].…”

“…There were no major changes in brain disconnectivity. Regarding theta, an increase in frontal-occipital functional connectivity has been found to be associated with an increase in creativity [68]. Furthermore, this band is found to be associated with increased cognitive control, which plays an important role in creative divergent thinking tasks [69,128].…”

Right Cortical Activation During Generation of Creative Insights: An Electroencephalographic Study of Coaching

“…The analysis of theta frequency power showed an increase in the right temporal and parietal regions associated with creative insights. In this sense, Wokke et al (2017Wokke et al ( , 2019 showed how creative metacognitive and decision-making processes are orchestrated by oscillations of theta frequency in the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, this research group demonstrated that high creativity is associated with an improvement in long-range functional connectivity between the occipital and medial prefrontal cortex.…”

From Coaching to Neurocoaching: A Neuroscientific Approach during a Coaching Session to Assess the Relational Dynamics between Coach and Coachee—A Pilot Study

“…The non-directive coaching style showed greater activation of the alpha and theta bands in the right temporal region and alpha, theta, and gamma in the right parietal area. Such brain activations, which are associated with processes of creative ideation [147][148][149][150], metacognition [151,152], and problem solving [153,154], provided neurophysiological evidence that coaching can enhance insight-based problem-solving skills [146].…”