Oxytocin enhances creativity specifically in approach-motivated individuals

Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide pivotal in social and reproductive behaviors, has recently gained attention for its potential impact on cognitive processes relevant to creativity. Yet, the direct intricate interplay between OT and creativity, particularly in the context of individual differences in motivational orientations, remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of intranasal OT on creative thinking in individuals characterized by varying levels of approach and avoidance motivations. The initial study, involving participants with high approach or avoidance motivation, employed the Alternative Uses Task to assess creativity under OT administration. Subsequently, the second study induced different motivational states through a recall task, aiming to validate and extend observed effects. Results revealed a significant enhancement of creativity in individuals with approach motivation following OT administration, while no parallel effect was discerned in those with avoidance motivation. Aligning with behavioral findings, functional connectivity and graph theory analyses of neural data illuminated the coordinated effects of OT on creativity-related neural networks. These outcomes collectively suggest that OT exerts a dissociable influence on creativity contingent upon an individual's motivational tendencies, providing insights into the intricate relationship between OT and human creative behavior.