Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity
Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity
Creativity has had a profound impact on the modern world. From the invention of the lightbulb to the formation of the internet, creative ideas have shaped the course of human history. Despite its critical importance to society, the process by which creative ideas emerge remains elusive. To assess the creative quality of ideas, traditional approaches have largely relied on human ratings. In my first publication (Orwig et al., 2021, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience) my colleagues and I applied a novel semantic distance measure to automatically and objectively assess the novelty of ideas. Additionally, we analyzed functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to capture dynamic interactions between brain regions, identifying patterns of resting-state network connectivity associated with creativity.
Creativity has had a profound impact on the modern world. From the invention of the lightbulb to the formation of the internet, creative ideas have shaped the course of human history. Despite its critical importance to society, the process by which creative ideas emerge remains elusive. To assess the creative quality of ideas, traditional approaches have largely relied on human ratings. In my first publication (Orwig et al., 2021, Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience) my colleagues and I applied a novel semantic distance measure to automatically and objectively assess the novelty of ideas. Additionally, we analyzed functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to capture dynamic interactions between brain regions, identifying patterns of resting-state network connectivity associated with creativity.
Our analysis revealed a robust correlation between computational scores and human ratings of creative ideas, validating semantic distance assessments as a viable measure of creative performance. We applied voxel-level, graph theory analysis to describe individual differences in brain connectivity. Our analyses in resting-state fMRI data showed reduced connectivity of visual cortex in more creative individuals. This suggests that highly creative people are more prone to engage in internally directed cognition, thus attenuating sensory input, in the absence of an external task.Â
Our analysis revealed a robust correlation between computational scores and human ratings of creative ideas, validating semantic distance assessments as a viable measure of creative performance. We applied voxel-level, graph theory analysis to describe individual differences in brain connectivity. Our analyses in resting-state fMRI data showed reduced connectivity of visual cortex in more creative individuals. This suggests that highly creative people are more prone to engage in internally directed cognition, thus attenuating sensory input, in the absence of an external task.Â
To replicate and extend these findings, we performed the same analysis in a cohort of creative experts. In this follow up study (Orwig et al., 2023, Network Neuroscience) we found that creative experts show reduced connectivity between primary visual cortex and the rest of the brain, compared to controls. Here, we further examined associations between functional brain connectivity and distal simulation, finding a negative association between distal simulation vividness and connectivity to the lateral visual cortex in creative experts.
To replicate and extend these findings, we performed the same analysis in a cohort of creative experts. In this follow up study (Orwig et al., 2023, Network Neuroscience) we found that creative experts show reduced connectivity between primary visual cortex and the rest of the brain, compared to controls. Here, we further examined associations between functional brain connectivity and distal simulation, finding a negative association between distal simulation vividness and connectivity to the lateral visual cortex in creative experts.
A related study explores the role of internally directed cognition in creative ideation. In this paper, we distinguished between intentional and unintentional forms of mind wandering and explore their component contributions to divergent thinking (Orwig et al., 2023, Creativity Research Journal). We describe connectivity within the Default Network associated with the intentionality of mind wandering, and provide novel evidence of a behavioral link between internal cognition and creativity.
A related study explores the role of internally directed cognition in creative ideation. In this paper, we distinguished between intentional and unintentional forms of mind wandering and explore their component contributions to divergent thinking (Orwig et al., 2023, Creativity Research Journal). We describe connectivity within the Default Network associated with the intentionality of mind wandering, and provide novel evidence of a behavioral link between internal cognition and creativity.