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Exploring the Associations Between Intrinsic Brain Connectivity and Creative Ability Using Functional Connectivity
Zhenni Gao1, Delong Zhang1, Aiying Liang2
11 Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, School of Psychology, South China Normal University , Guangzhou, China .
Resting-state functional connectivity is linked to creativity. Higher network efficiency in brain regions, particularly within supramodal networks, distinguishes high-creativity individuals from low-creativity individuals, revealing insights into the neural basis of creativity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- Creativity is a complex cognitive function with a poorly understood neural basis.
- Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) offers a window into intrinsic brain organization.
- Previous research has begun to explore the neural correlates of creativity, but a comprehensive understanding remains elusive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between resting-state functional connectivity and creativity ability.
- To identify brain regions and networks exhibiting differential functional connectivity between high and low creativity groups.
- To explore the relationship between network properties and creativity performance.
Main Methods:
- Collected figural Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) scores from 180 participants.
- Acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from high-creativity (HG) and low-creativity (LG) groups.
- Employed voxel-wise functional connectivity strength (FCS) and seed-based analysis, followed by connectome property analysis, permutation tests, discriminative analysis, and brain-behavior correlation.
Main Results:
- Identified 4 regions with significant group differences in FCS, connecting to 30 other regions, forming a creativity-related network.
- Observed higher network efficiency in the high-creativity group compared to the low-creativity group.
- Found that supramodal networks, including the default mode and attention networks, contained discriminative information for creativity levels and correlated significantly with performance.
Conclusions:
- Intrinsic brain connectivity, particularly within specific networks, is associated with individual differences in creativity.
- The findings highlight the role of intrinsic brain organization in supporting creative ability.
- This study provides novel insights into the neural underpinnings of creativity, suggesting potential targets for future research and intervention.
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