Into the Square and out of the Box: The effects of Quadrato Motor Training on Creativity and Alpha Coherence

Ben‐Soussan, Tal Dotan; Glicksohn, Joseph; Goldstein, Abraham; Berkovich‐Ohana, Aviva; Donchin, Opher

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055023

Cited by 42 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…In this case, some differences were present also in the T1 vs. T0 comparison; indeed, we found an increment in alpha1 connectivity after the first session of QMT in occipito-temporal connections. These results are in agreement with a recent finding reporting inter- and intra- connectivity enhancement after QMT (Ben-Soussan et al, 2013), but especially with another study reporting the same occipito-temporal enhanced connectivity in MCI patients undergoing 1 month-training of QMT as compared to MCI patients without the same training (Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2016). In the light of the results of the present study, future directions could involve longer training for MCI patients in order to show greatest effect, that in our case were observed after 2 months of QMT.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

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Increased Alpha Band Functional Connectivity Following the Quadrato Motor Training: A Longitudinal Study

Lasaponara

Mauro

Carducci

et al. 2017

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is a new training paradigm, which was found to increase cognitive flexibility, creativity and spatial cognition. In addition, QMT was reported to enhance inter- and intra-hemispheric alpha coherence as well as Fractional Anisotropy (FA) in a number of white matter pathways including corpus callosum. Taken together, these results seem to suggest that electrophysiological and structural changes induced by QMT may be due to an enhanced interplay and communication of the different brain areas within and between the right and the left hemisphere. In order to test this hypothesis using the exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA), we estimated the current neural density and lagged linear connectivity (LLC) of the alpha band in the resting state electroencephalography (rsEEG) recorded with open (OE) and closed eyes (CE) at three different time points, following 6 and 12 weeks of daily QMT. Significant changes were observed for the functional connectivity. In particular, we found that limbic and fronto-temporal alpha connectivity in the OE condition increased after 6 weeks, while it enhanced at the CE condition in occipital network following 12-weeks of daily training. These findings seem to show that the QMT may have dissociable long-term effects on the functional connectivity depending on the different ways of recording rsEEG. OE recording pointed out a faster onset of Linear Lag Connectivity modulations that tend to decay as quickly, while CE recording showed sensible effect only after the complete 3-months training.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Conversely, QMT as previously demonstrated (Ben-Soussan et al, 2013) may have an effect on the dynamic electrophysiological changes as indexed by alpha coherence or functional rs-connectivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 69%

Increased Alpha Band Functional Connectivity Following the Quadrato Motor Training: A Longitudinal Study

Lasaponara

Mauro

Carducci

et al. 2017

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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“…To study the relationship between creativity and DMN activity, we tested the effect of gamma power and gamma functional connectivity, previously shown to correspond to DMN activity (Berkovich-Ohana et al 2012 on Alternative Uses scores, in several steps.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given that the time required to place the EEG net was around 30 min, the immediate effect of the AU task on the resting-state activity can be considered negligible. Given that our aim here is to study the relationship between resting-state EEG, mindfulness meditation expertise effects and creativity, only resting-state EEG data and AU scores from the pre-meditation condition will be reported, based on our previous reports with this cohort of participants (Berkovich-Ohana et al 2012.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creativity Is Enhanced by Long-Term Mindfulness Training and Is Negatively Correlated with Trait Default-Mode-Related Low-Gamma Inter-Hemispheric Connectivity

et al. 2016

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It is becoming increasingly accepted that creative performance, especially divergent thinking, may depend on reduced activity within the default mode network (DMN), related to mind-wandering and autobiographic selfreferential processing. However, the relationship between trait (resting-state) DMN activity and divergent thinking is controversial. Here, we test the relationship between resting-state DMN activity and divergent thinking in a group of mindfulness meditation practitioners. We build on our two previous reports, which have shown DMN activity to be related to resting-state log gamma (25-45 Hz) power and interhemispheric functional connectivity. Using the same cohort of participants (three mindfulness groups with increasing expertise, and controls, n = 12 each), we tested (1) divergent thinking scores (Flexibility and Fluency) using the Alternative Uses task and (2) correlation between Alternative Uses scores and DMN activity as measured by resting-state gamma power and inter-hemispheric functional connectivity. We found that both Fluency and Flexibility (1) were higher in the two long-term mindfulness groups (>1000 h) compared to short-term mindfulness practitioners and control participants and (2) negatively correlated with gamma inter-hemispheric functional connectivity (frontalmidline and posterior-midline connections). In addition, (3) Fluency was significantly correlated with mindfulness expertise. Together, these results show that long-term mindfulness meditators exhibit higher divergent thinking scores in correlation with their expertise and demonstrate a negative divergent thinking-resting-state DMN activity relationship, thus largely support a negative DMN-creativity connection.

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“…In order to control these parameters, we used a movement sequence paced at a rate of an average of 0.5 Hz (similar to a slow walking rate), and we instructed the participants to begin all movements with the leg closest to the center of the square (a detailed description can be found in Dotan Ben-Soussan et al, 2013). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A suspended act: increased reflectivity and gender-dependent electrophysiological change following Quadrato Motor Training

et al. 2014

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Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is a specifically-structured walking meditation, aimed at improving reflectivity and lowering habitual thought and movement. Here we set out to examine the possible effect of QMT on reflectivity, employing the Hidden Figures Test (HFT), which assesses both spatial performance (measured by correct answers) as well as reflectivity (interpolated from correct answers and reaction time). In the first study (n = 24, only females), we showed that QMT significantly improves HFT performance, compared to two groups, controlling for cognitive or motor aspects of the QMT: Verbal Training (identical cognitive training with verbal response) and Simple Motor Training (similar motor training with reduced choice requirements). These results show that QMT improves HFT performance above the pre-post expected learning. In the second study, building on previous literature showing gender-dependent effects on cognitive performance, we conducted a preliminary pilot examining gender-dependent effect of training on reflectivity and its electrophysiological counterparts. EEG analyses focused on theta, alpha and gamma coherence. HFT performance and resting-state EEG were measured in 37 participants (20 males), using a within-subject pre-post design. Following training, HFT performance improved in both genders. However, we found a gender-dependent difference in functional connectivity: while theta and alpha intra-hemispheric coherence was enhanced in females, the opposite pattern was found in males. These results are discussed in relation to neuronal efficiency theory. Together, the results demonstrate that QMT improves spatial performance, and may involve a gender-dependent electrophysiological effect. This study emphasizes both the importance of studying gender-related training effects within the contemplative neuroscience endeavor, as well as the need to widen its scope toward including “contemplation in action.”

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Into the Square and out of the Box: The effects of Quadrato Motor Training on Creativity and Alpha Coherence

Cited by 42 publications

References 67 publications

Increased Alpha Band Functional Connectivity Following the Quadrato Motor Training: A Longitudinal Study

Increased Alpha Band Functional Connectivity Following the Quadrato Motor Training: A Longitudinal Study

Creativity Is Enhanced by Long-Term Mindfulness Training and Is Negatively Correlated with Trait Default-Mode-Related Low-Gamma Inter-Hemispheric Connectivity

A suspended act: increased reflectivity and gender-dependent electrophysiological change following Quadrato Motor Training

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