Changes of creative ability and underlying brain network connectivity throughout the lifespan
Jordanna A Kruse1, Casey S Martin1, Noah Hamlin1
1Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.
Brain and Cognition
|April 9, 2023
Summary
Creative thinking and brain networks evolve across the lifespan. Adolescents show different executive control network (ECN) connectivity patterns related to creativity compared to adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Creativity, or divergent thinking, is a key cognitive function.
- Understanding its neural mechanisms across the lifespan is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate divergent thinking and its neural underpinnings from adolescence to late adulthood.
- Examine age-related changes in creativity and brain network connectivity.
Main Methods:
- 180 healthy participants (adolescents, young adults, older adults) completed the egg task for divergent thinking.
- Resting-state fMRI was used to assess functional connectivity in 111 participants.
- Analyzed connectivity within and between the Default Mode Network (DMN), Executive Control Network (ECN), and Salience Network (SN).
Main Results:
- Adolescents scored lower in expansion creativity than young and older adults.
- Adolescents showed a positive association between ECN integrity and expansion creativity.
- Young and older adults exhibited a negative association between ECN integrity and expansion creativity.
Conclusions:
- Creative performance and associated brain network connectivity change significantly throughout the lifespan.
- The relationship between the ECN and expansion creativity differs between adolescents and adults.
More Related Videos
10:13Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
13.8K
08:36Dynamic Inter-subject Functional Connectivity Reveals Moment-to-Moment Brain Network Configurations Driven by Continuous or Communication Paradigms
Published on: March 21, 2019
7.3K
Related Concept Videos
01:01Neuroplasticity
621
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
621
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
176
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
176
01:18Cognitive Development During Adolescence
93
During adolescence, individuals experience significant cognitive development that enhances their understanding of others' emotions and thoughts, known as cognitive empathy. This period is marked by an increased ability to adapt to others' perspectives and a more nuanced understanding of others' mental states, a skill that is foundational for social problem-solving and conflict avoidance. The development of cognitive empathy relies heavily on the theory of mind — the...
93
01:30Information Processing Approach
83
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
83
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
72
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
72
01:28Lateralization
383
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
383