Frontotemporal and dopaminergic control of idea generation and creative drive

Abstract

This article presents a three-factor anatomical model of human idea generation and creative drive, focusing on interactions between the temporal lobes, frontal lobes, and limbic system. Evidence is drawn from functional imaging, drug studies, and lesion analysis. Temporal lobe changes, as in hypergraphia, often increase idea generation, sometimes at the expense of quality. Frontal lobe deficits may decrease idea generation, in part because of rigid judgments about an idea's worth. These phenomena are clearest in verbal creativity, and roughly parallel the pressured communication of temporal lobe epilepsy, mania, and Wernicke's aphasia-compared to the sparse speech and cognitive inflexibility of depression, Broca's aphasia, and other frontal lobe lesions. The phenomena also shape non-linguistic creativity, as in that of frontotemporal dementia. The appropriate balance between frontal and temporal activity is mediated by mutually inhibitory corticocortical interactions. Mesolimbic dopamine influences novelty seeking and creative drive. Dopamine agonists and antagonists have opposite effects on goal-directed behavior and hallucinations. Creative drive is not identical to skill-the latter depends more on neocortical association areas. However, drive correlates better with successful creative output than skill does. Traditional neuroscientific models of creativity, such as the left brain - right brain hemispheric model, emphasize skills primarily, and stress art and musical skill at the expense of language and mathematics. The three-factor model proposed here predicts findings in a broad range of normal and pathological states and can be tested in many experimental paradigms.

New advances in the neural correlates of insight: A decade in review of the insightful brain

“…The temporal lobe is the critical neural basis for the cognitive processes that underlie creativity and creative expression. For example, a threefactor anatomical model suggests that the temporal lobe is primarily responsible for the formation of novel connections and the enhancement of connection quality [14,60,61]. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the hippocampus, STG and fusiform gyrus participate in the formation of novel connections and remote associations.…”

Un estudio exploratorio de la relación entre la inteligencia musical, viso-espacial, corporal-cinestésica y creatividad motriz en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje

“…Por otro lado, al generar ideas creativas aparecen conexiones frontotemporales. Esta relación es mucho más importante entre sí que las que se realizan entre ambos hemisferios (Flaherty, 2005). -Otras estructuras con implicación: El Sistema Límbico forma parte del proceso generador de ideas, pues se encarga de enviar respuestas fisiológicas frente a estímulos emocionales durante el proceso de creatividad.…”

Neuropsychiatry of creativity

“…However, as discussed by Flaherty [12], creative drive and the generation of ideas depends on interactions between the frontal lobes with the temporo-limbic structures. Further, these studies also suggest that the frontal lobes of more creative individuals are more efficient.…”