Gray matter density in relation to different facets of verbal creativity

Abstract

Neuroscience studies on creativity have revealed highly variegated findings that often seem to be inconsistent. As recently argued in Fink and Benedek (Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2012), this might be primarily due to the broad diversity in defining and measuring creativity as well as to the diversity of experimental procedures and methodologies used in this field of research. In specifically focusing on one measure of brain activation and on the well-established process of creative ideation (i.e., divergent thinking), EEG studies revealed a quite consistent and replicable pattern of right-lateralized brain activity over posterior parietal and occipital sites. In this study, we related regional gray matter density (as assessed by means of voxel-based morphometry) to different facets of psychometrically determined verbal creativity in a sample of 71 participants. Results revealed that verbal creativity was significantly and positively associated with gray matter density in clusters involving the right cuneus and the right precuneus. Enhanced gray matter density in these regions may be indicative of vivid imaginative abilities in more creative individuals. These findings complement existing functional studies on creative ideation which are, taken as a whole, among the most consistent findings in this field.

Extraversion mediates the relationship between structural variations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and social well-being

“…Effects were considered to be significant when the volume of a cluster was greater than the minimum cluster size on whole brain GMV (determined using the Monte Carlo simulation; 1032 mm 3 ), in which case the probability of a type I error was less than 0.01. Generally, AlphaSim has been widely used in previous VBM studies (DeYoung et al, 2010;Fink et al, 2013;Kong et al, 2013;Leung et al, 2013;W. Li et al, 2014;Schwartz et al, 2010).…”

Individual differences in verbal creative thinking are reflected in the precuneus

“…More recently, however, a more consistent picture of the creative brain has begun to emerge (Beaty et al, 2014;Fink et al, 2013;Jauk et al, 2015;Kühn et al, 2014;Takeuchi et al, 2012). For instance, a recent voxel-based morphometry study investigating verbal creative potential reported positive associations between indicators of creativity and brain structure in the precuneus (Fink et al, 2013). A subsequent study by Emanuel Jauk and colleagues (2015) also found a relationship between ideational originality and grey matter volume in the precuneus.…”

“…Although structural imaging research has revealed individual differences in creative potential or performance (Chen et al, 2014;Fink et al, 2013;Jung et al, 2010;Takeuchi et al, 2010;Zhu et al, 2013), such findings are not universal, possibly due to a diversity of designs and methodologies employed (Dietrich and Kanso, 2010;Fink et al, 2013). More recently, however, a more consistent picture of the creative brain has begun to emerge (Beaty et al, 2014;Fink et al, 2013;Jauk et al, 2015;Kühn et al, 2014;Takeuchi et al, 2012). For instance, a recent voxel-based morphometry study investigating verbal creative potential reported positive associations between indicators of creativity and brain structure in the precuneus (Fink et al, 2013).…”

“…Creative potential is often viewed as a normally distributed and stable trait that is reflected in brain structure (Eysenck, 1995;Fink et al, 2013). A growing body of research has focused on the brain structural characterizations or biomarkers of creative potential from an individual differences perspective.…”

Cognitive and neural correlates of the 5-repeat allele of the dopamine D4 receptor gene in a population lacking the 7-repeat allele

“…Furthermore, other studies of resting state paradigms have revealed that resting state brain activity involving the DMN is important for creativity measured by divergent thinking (Takeuchi et al, 2012a;Wei et al, 2013). Some structural studies have indicated that the brain structure of the key nodes of the DMN is associated with creativity (Fink et al, 2013). In addition, DMN is thought to be critically involved in self-referential or introspective cognitive activities, such as those involving autobiographical memory, and social cognition, such as the theory of mind (Buckner et al, 2008;Fair et al, 2008;Schilbach et al, 2008).…”