Voxel-based morphometry in creative writers: Grey matter increase in a prefronto-thalamic-cerebellar network

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Continuous practice shapes brain anatomy according to task demands.
• Long-term engagement in creative writing may induce specific structural brain modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate brain structural changes associated with expertise in creative writing.
• To identify specific brain regions modulated by long-term creative writing experience.

Main Methods:

• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to compare grey matter volume.
• 23 expert writers were compared with 28 matched nonexpert controls.
• Regression analyses explored associations between grey matter volume and writing practice/creativity.

Main Results:

• Expert writers exhibited greater grey matter volume in the right superior/middle frontal gyri, left middle frontal gyrus, bilateral thalamus, and left posterior cerebellum.
• Grey matter volume in the right superior frontal gyrus correlated with writing practice.
• Grey matter volume in the right Broca's analogue and visual cortex correlated with text creativity ratings.

Conclusions:

• Creative writing is associated with a prefronto-thalamic-cerebellar network.
• This network facilitates the continuous generation, organization, and revision of ideas crucial for literary writing.
• Neuroplasticity in these regions underlies the development of creative writing expertise.