2
|
Ang YS, Cusin C, Petibon Y, Dillon DG, Breiger M, Belleau EL, Normandin M, Schroder H, Boyden S, Hayden E, Levine MT, Jahan A, Meyer AK, Kang MS, Brunner D, Gelda SE, Hooker J, El Fakhri G, Fava M, Pizzagalli DA. A multi-pronged investigation of option generation using depression, PET and modafinil. Brain 2022; 145:1854-1865. [PMID: 35150243 PMCID: PMC9166534 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Option generation is a critical process in decision making, but previous studies have largely focused on choices between options given by a researcher. Consequently, how we self-generate options for behaviour remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated option generation in major depressive disorder and how dopamine might modulate this process, as well as the effects of modafinil (a putative cognitive enhancer) on option generation in healthy individuals. We first compared differences in self-generated options between healthy non-depressed adults [n = 44, age = 26.3 years (SD 5.9)] and patients with major depressive disorder [n = 54, age = 24.8 years (SD 7.4)]. In the second study, a subset of depressed individuals [n = 22, age = 25.6 years (SD 7.8)] underwent PET scans with 11C-raclopride to examine the relationships between dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability and individual differences in option generation. Finally, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover study of modafinil (100 mg and 200 mg), was conducted in an independent sample of healthy people [n = 19, age = 23.2 years (SD 4.8)] to compare option generation under different doses of this drug. The first study revealed that patients with major depressive disorder produced significantly fewer options [t(96) = 2.68, P = 0.009, Cohen's d = 0.54], albeit with greater uniqueness [t(96) = -2.54, P = 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.52], on the option generation task compared to healthy controls. In the second study, we found that 11C-raclopride binding potential in the putamen was negatively correlated with fluency (r = -0.69, P = 0.001) but positively associated with uniqueness (r = 0.59, P = 0.007). Hence, depressed individuals with higher densities of unoccupied putamen D2/D3 receptors in the putamen generated fewer but more unique options, whereas patients with lower D2/D3 receptor availability were likely to produce a larger number of similar options. Finally, healthy participants were less unique [F(2,36) = 3.32, P = 0.048, partial η2 = 0.16] and diverse [F(2,36) = 4.31, P = 0.021, partial η2 = 0.19] after taking 200 mg versus 100 mg and 0 mg of modafinil, while fluency increased linearly with dosage at a trend level [F(1,18) = 4.11, P = 0.058, partial η2 = 0.19]. Our results show, for the first time, that option generation is affected in clinical depression and that dopaminergic activity in the putamen of patients with major depressive disorder may play a key role in the self-generation of options. Modafinil was also found to influence option generation in healthy people by reducing the creativity of options produced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuen-Siang Ang
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Social and Cognitive Computing Department, Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632, Singapore
| | - Cristina Cusin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yoann Petibon
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniel G Dillon
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Micah Breiger
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Emily L Belleau
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Marc Normandin
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Hans Schroder
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sean Boyden
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Emma Hayden
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - M Taylor Levine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Aava Jahan
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ashley K Meyer
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Min Su Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Devon Brunner
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
| | - Steven E Gelda
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jacob Hooker
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Georges El Fakhri
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Maurizio Fava
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Correspondence to: Diego A. Pizzagalli, PhD McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xia T, Kang M, Chen M, Ouyang J, Hu F. Design Training and Creativity: Students Develop Stronger Divergent but Not Convergent Thinking. Front Psychol 2021; 12:695002. [PMID: 34671286 PMCID: PMC8520923 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.695002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Design training programs that teach creativity often emphasize divergent thinking (generation of ideas) more than convergent thinking (evaluation of ideas). We hypothesized that training would lead to more both types of creativity, but especially divergent thinking. Three groups of university students (N=120; n=40 in each group) were recruited to participate: senior design students (graduate students with at least 4years of design training as undergraduates); junior design students (undergraduates in their first year of design training); and undergraduate students in majors unrelated to design. The students completed three tasks in a classroom setting to assess divergent thinking (Alternate Uses Task), convergent thinking (Remote Associates Task), and nonverbal abstract reasoning (Raven's Progressive Matrices Test). The results of one-way ANOVAs showed that as expected, senior design students significantly outperformed junior design students and non-design majors in divergent thinking. However, contrary to expectations, senior design students had significantly lower scores than the non-design group on convergent thinking; the junior design students' scores fell in the middle but were not significantly different from either of the other groups. There were no group differences in nonverbal abstract reasoning. These findings suggest that design training significantly improves students' ability to generate ideas but does not improve, or may even hinder, their ability to evaluate whether the ideas are useful for the task at hand. The results have implications for developing a research-based curriculum in design training programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiansheng Xia
- School of Art and Design, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengxia Kang
- School of Art and Design, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Chen
- School of Art and Design, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Ouyang
- School of Art and Design, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Hu
- School of Art and Design, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Van Puyvelde M, Van Cutsem J, Lacroix E, Pattyn N. A State-of-the-Art Review on the Use of Modafinil as A Performance-enhancing Drug in the Context of Military Operationality. Mil Med 2021; 187:52-64. [PMID: 34632515 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usab398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Modafinil is an eugeroic drug that has been examined to maintain or recover wakefulness, alertness, and cognitive performance when sleep deprived. In a nonmilitary context, the use of modafinil as a nootropic or smart drug, i.e., to improve cognitive performance without being sleep deprived, increases. Although cognitive performance is receiving more explicit attention in a military context, research into the impact of modafinil as a smart drug in function of operationality is lacking. Therefore, the current review aimed at presenting a current state-of-the-art and research agenda on modafinil as a smart drug. Beside the question whether modafinil has an effect or not on cognitive performance, we examined four research questions based on the knowledge on modafinil in sleep-deprived subjects: (1) Is there a difference between the effect of modafinil as a smart drug when administered in repeated doses versus one single dose?; (2) Is the effect of modafinil as a smart drug dose-dependent?; (3) Are there individual-related and/or task-related impact factors?; and (4) What are the reported mental and/or somatic side effects of modafinil as a smart drug? METHOD We conducted a systematic search of the literature in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, using the search terms "Modafinil" and "Cognitive enhance*" in combination with specific terms related to the research questions. The inclusion criteria were studies on healthy human subjects with quantifiable cognitive outcome based on cognitive tasks. RESULTS We found no literature on the impact of a repeated intake of modafinil as a smart drug, although, in users, intake occurs on a regular basis. Moreover, although modafinil was initially said to comprise no risk for abuse, there are now indications that modafinil works on the same neurobiological mechanisms as other addictive stimulants. There is also no thorough research into a potential risk for overconfidence, whereas this risk was identified in sleep-deprived subjects. Furthermore, eventual enhancing effects were beneficial only in persons with an initial lower performance level and/or performing more difficult tasks and modafinil has an adverse effect when used under time pressure and may negatively impact physical performance. Finally, time-on-task may interact with the dose taken. DISCUSSION The use of modafinil as a smart drug should be examined in function of different military profiles considering their individual performance level and the task characteristics in terms of cognitive demands, physical demands, and sleep availability. It is not yet clear to what extent an improvement in one component (e.g., cognitive performance) may negatively affect another component (e.g., physical performance). Moreover, potential risks for abuse and overconfidence in both regular and occasional intake should be thoroughly investigated to depict the trade-off between user benefits and unwanted side effects. We identified that there is a current risk to the field, as this trade-off has been deemed acceptable for sleep-deprived subjects (considering the risk of sleep deprivation to performance) but this reasoning cannot and should not be readily transposed to non-sleep-deprived individuals. We thus conclude against the use of modafinil as a cognitive enhancer in military contexts that do not involve sleep deprivation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martine Van Puyvelde
- VIPER Research Unit, Department of LIFE, Royal Military Academy, Brussels 1000, Belgium.,Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium.,Clinical & Lifespan Psychology, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Van Cutsem
- VIPER Research Unit, Department of LIFE, Royal Military Academy, Brussels 1000, Belgium.,MFYS-BLITS, Department of Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Emilie Lacroix
- VIPER Research Unit, Department of LIFE, Royal Military Academy, Brussels 1000, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Pattyn
- VIPER Research Unit, Department of LIFE, Royal Military Academy, Brussels 1000, Belgium.,MFYS-BLITS, Department of Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu CL, Huang SY, Chen PZ, Chen HC. A Systematic Review of Creativity-Related Studies Applying the Remote Associates Test From 2000 to 2019. Front Psychol 2020; 11:573432. [PMID: 33192871 PMCID: PMC7644781 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.573432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The study examines how the remote associates test (RAT) has been used to examine theories of creativity through a review of recent studies on creativity. Creativity-related studies published between 2000 and 2019 were retrieved from the SCOPUS database. A total of 172 papers were chosen for further analysis. Content analysis shows that research on creativity using RAT mainly concerns remote association, insight problem-solving, general creative process, test development, individual difference, effect of treatment, clinical case, social interaction effect, and predictor or criterion. The study constructs a theoretical framework based on the 4P (Product–Person–Process–Place) model and demonstrates how empirical studies using the RAT explore the individual differences, internal processes, and external influences of creative thinking. In addition, the most commonly used version of the RAT is the Compound Remote Associates Problems (Bowden and Jung-Beeman, 2003a). Current research shows a trend whereby the creative thinking process has been receiving greater attention. In particular, a growing number of studies in this field have been carried out using cognitive neuroscience technologies. These findings suggest that the RAT provides researchers with a way to deepen their understanding of different levels of creativity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Lin Wu
- Program of Learning Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute for Research Excellence in Learning Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yuan Huang
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Zhen Chen
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Chih Chen
- Institute for Research Excellence in Learning Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Chinese Language and Technology Center, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hutten NRPW, Steenbergen L, Colzato LS, Hommel B, Theunissen EL, Ramaekers JG, Kuypers KPC. Cocaine enhances figural, but impairs verbal 'flexible' divergent thinking. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:813-824. [PMID: 31255395 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence suggests that cocaine use will help overcome creative 'blocks' by enhancing flexible thinking. Given that cocaine is likely to enhance dopamine (DA) levels, which in turn are positively associated with divergent thinking (DT); is a possibility that is tested in the present study. Furthermore, the impact of cocaine is tested on convergent thinking (CT), another aspect of creative thinking, which has been reported to be impaired with high DA levels. It was hypothesized that cocaine would enhance DT and impair CT. A placebo-controlled within-subjects study including 24 healthy poly-drug users was set up to test the influence of oral cocaine (300 mg) on creativity. Verbal CT was assessed with the Remote Associates Task (RAT); figural CT was assessed with the Picture Concepts Task (PCT) and the Tower of London (TOL). Verbal DT was assessed with the Alternative Uses Task (AUT); figural DT was assessed with the Pattern/Line Meanings Task (PLMT). Findings showed that, compared to placebo, cocaine impaired figural CT (TOL) and flexible DT of verbal stimuli (AUT), while it enhanced figural DT (PLMT). No significant effects of cocaine were observed regarding the PCT and RAT. It was demonstrated that cocaine-induced effects on creativity in poly-drug users are stimulus-dependent. Cocaine enhanced performance on figural DT but impaired performance on verbal (flexible) DT. Cocaine impaired CT on only one figural task and but not on the other tasks. As creativity is an important aspect in cognitive therapies, it is important to further understand these discrepancies in creativity task performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia R P W Hutten
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Laura Steenbergen
- Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lorenza S Colzato
- Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Eef L Theunissen
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes G Ramaekers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Kim P C Kuypers
- Department of Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Spee B, Ishizu T, Leder H, Mikuni J, Kawabata H, Pelowski M. Neuropsychopharmacological aesthetics: A theoretical consideration of pharmacological approaches to causative brain study in aesthetics and art. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2018; 237:343-372. [PMID: 29779743 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments in neuroaesthetics have heightened the need for causative approaches to more deeply understand the mechanism underlying perception, emotion, and aesthetic experiences. This has recently been the topic for empirical work, employing several causative methods for changing brain activity, as well as comparative assessments of individuals with brain damage or disease. However, one area of study with high potential, and indeed a long history of often nonscientific use in the area of aesthetics and art, employing psychopharmacological chemicals as means of changing brain function, has not been systematically utilized. This chapter reviews the literature on this topic, analyzing neuroendocrinological (neurochemical) approaches and mechanisms that might be used to causatively study the aesthetic brain. We focus on four relevant neuromodulatory systems potentially related to aesthetic experience: the dopaminergic, serotonergic, cannabinoid, and the opioidergic system. We build a bridge to psychopharmacological methods and review drug-induced behavioral and neurobiological consequences. We conclude with a discussion of hypotheses and suggestions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Spee
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomohiro Ishizu
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Leder
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Psychology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Mikuni
- Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|