Two critical brain networks for generation and combination of remote associations

Abstract

Recent functional imaging findings in humans indicate that creativity relies on spontaneous and controlled processes, possibly supported by the default mode and the fronto-parietal control networks, respectively. Here, we examined the ability to generate and combine remote semantic associations, in relation to creative abilities, in patients with focal frontal lesions. Voxel-based lesion-deficit mapping, disconnection-deficit mapping and network-based lesion-deficit approaches revealed critical prefrontal nodes and connections for distinct mechanisms related to creative cognition. Damage to the right medial prefrontal region, or its potential disrupting effect on the default mode network, affected the ability to generate remote ideas, likely by altering the organization of semantic associations. Damage to the left rostrolateral prefrontal region and its connections, or its potential disrupting effect on the left fronto-parietal control network, spared the ability to generate remote ideas but impaired the ability to appropriately combine remote ideas. Hence, the current findings suggest that damage to specific nodes within the default mode and fronto-parietal control networks led to a critical loss of verbal creative abilities by altering distinct cognitive mechanisms.

The contribution of the lesion approach to the neuroscience of creative cognition

“…Critical role of the DMN and FPCN for creativity (Table 1) To explore whether the DMN and FPCN are critical for creative processes, Bendetowicz et al [17] performed a lesion study on patients with single focal frontal lesions. To assess creative abilities, the authors used the Combined Association Task, an adaptation of Mednick's Remote Associates Task (RAT), in which three unrelated cue words are presented, and the subject has to provide a solution word related to all three cue words.…”

Large-scale brain networks and Freudian ego

“…For example, creativity can be viewed as a kind of disinhibition, which allows the generation of novel and useful ideas, involving both primary and secondary thought process features. In this line of reasoning, it has been found that CEN and DMN work jointly in creativity (Beaty et al, 2014;Beaty, Benedek, Kaufman, & Silvia, 2015;Bendetowicz et al, 2018;Bressler & Menon, 2010;Christoff, 2013, p. 326;Jung, Mead, Carrasco, & Flores, 2013;Takeuchi et al, 2012;Wei et al, 2014). This is in agreement with the concept of regression in the name of the ego, namely that both primary and secondary thought processes are recruited simultaneously in creativity (Bush, 1969, pp.…”

Executive and default network connectivity reflects conceptual interference during creative imagery generation

“…Several regions of the ECN have been implicated in creative cognition, including the left lateral prefrontal cortex during conceptual interference (Abraham, 2014a;Beaty et al, 2017). One study examining lesions in the left IFG found that the ability to appropriately combine remote ideas was impaired but the ability to generate them was spared (Bendetowicz et al, 2017). This suggests that the ECN may have an important role for the effective inhibition and evaluation of creative ideas (cf.…”

“…The interactions between these two networks appear to support creative cognition through a cyclic and dynamic interplay of generation and evaluation processes (Abraham, 2018;Beaty et al, 2016;Bendetowicz et al, 2017;Chrysikou, 2019). Generation processes (i.e., DN) rely on search through semantic and autobiographical memory to reach remote associations, CONCEPTUAL INTERFERENCE DURING IMAGERY GENERATON 7 while evaluation processes (i.e., ECN) inhibit salient knowledge and manipulate these associations into a creative product (Kleinmintz et al, 2019).…”