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Exploring Neural Signal Complexity as a Potential Link between Creative Thinking, Intelligence, and Cognitive Control
Yadwinder Kaur1, Selina Weiss2, Changsong Zhou3
1Department of Psychology, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
Journal of Intelligence
|December 23, 2021
Summary
Creative thinking and cognitive control are linked by brain-signal complexity (BSC), specifically multi-scale entropy (MSE). This neural complexity, not intelligence, predicts divergent thinking factors like fluency and originality.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Creative thinking involves multiple neural networks, including cognitive control.
- Cognitive control is theoretically linked to creative thinking and intelligence.
- Detailed investigation of neural correlates of cognitive control, creative thinking, and intelligence is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore behavioral and neural relationships between cognitive control, divergent thinking (DT) factors (fluency, originality), and intelligence (fluid, crystallized).
- To investigate brain-signal complexity (BSC) using multi-scale entropy (MSE) during DT and cognitive control tasks.
- To determine if MSE is a neural indicator of originality and inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Studied 77 young adults performing verbal DT and cognitive control tasks.
- Measured brain-signal complexity (BSC) using multi-scale entropy (MSE).
- Analyzed associations between MSE, DT factors, and intelligence scores.
Main Results:
- MSE effectively indicated originality and inhibition.
- MSE during DT tasks and cognitive control states correlated with fluency and originality at specific scalp locations.
- No significant associations were found between MSE and fluid or crystallized intelligence.
Conclusions:
- Brain-signal complexity (BSC) is a neural indicator for creative thinking factors like fluency and originality.
- Cognitive control's neural underpinnings of creativity are related to brain complexity, not general intelligence.
- Findings offer a new perspective on the neural basis of creativity and cognitive control.
Keywords:
brain signal complexity (BSC)cognitive controlcreative thinkingcreative/fluent verbal associationdivergent thinking (DT)fluid (gf) and crystallized intelligence (gc)inhibitionmulti-scale entropy (MSE)verbal creativityMore Related Videos
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