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Clark A. Hacking the Predictive Mind. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 26:677. [PMID: 39202147 PMCID: PMC11353553 DOI: 10.3390/e26080677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024]
Abstract
According to active inference, constantly running prediction engines in our brain play a large role in delivering all human experience. These predictions help deliver everything we see, hear, touch, and feel. In this paper, I pursue one apparent consequence of this increasingly well-supported view. Given the constant influence of hidden predictions on human experience, can we leverage the power of prediction in the service of human flourishing? Can we learn to hack our own predictive regimes in ways that better serve our needs and purposes? Asking this question rapidly reveals a landscape that is at once familiar and new. It is also challenging, suggesting important questions about scope and dangers while casting further doubt (as if any was needed) on old assumptions about a firm mind/body divide. I review a range of possible hacks, starting with the careful use of placebos, moving on to look at chronic pain and functional disorders, and ending with some speculations concerning the complex role of genetic influences on the predictive brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Clark
- Department of Philosophy, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK;
- Department of Informatics, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
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2
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Gross ME, Elliott JC, Schooler JW. Why creatives don't find the oddball odd: Neural and psychological evidence for atypical salience processing. Brain Cogn 2024; 178:106178. [PMID: 38823196 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Creativity has previously been linked with various attentional phenomena, including unfocused or broad attention. Although this has typically been interpreted through an executive functioning framework, such phenomena may also arise from atypical incentive salience processing. Across two studies, we examine this hypothesis both neurally and psychologically. First we examine the relationship between figural creativity and event-related potentials during an audio-visual oddball task, finding that rater creativity of drawings is associated with a diminished P300 response at midline electrodes, while abstractness and elaborateness of the drawings is associated with an altered distribution of the P300 over posterior electrodes. These findings support the notion that creativity may involve an atypical attribution of salience to prominent information. We further explore the incentive salience hypothesis by examining relationships between creativity and a psychological indicator of incentive salience captured by participants' ratings of enjoyment (liking) and their motivation to pursue (wanting) diverse real world rewards, as well as their positive spontaneous thoughts about those rewards. Here we find enhanced motivation to pursue activities as well as a reduced relationship between the overall tendency to enjoy rewards and the tendency to pursue them. Collectively, these findings indicate that creativity may be associated with atypical allocation of attentional and motivational resources to novel and rewarding information, potentially allowing more types of information access to attentional resources and motivating more diverse behaviors. We discuss the possibility that salience attribution in creatives may be less dependent on task-relevance or hedonic pleasure, and suggest that atypical salience attribution may represent a trait-like feature of creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine E Gross
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
| | - James C Elliott
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
| | - Jonathan W Schooler
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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3
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Loreskär P, Binder PE. Nothing less than a creative triumph: a study of children admitted to hospital for serious somatic illness or injury and their experience of art therapy. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1353507. [PMID: 38558783 PMCID: PMC10979798 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1353507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hospitalization can be an extremely distressing experience for seriously ill and injured children. Art therapy has a well-established clinical history, and recent research has begun to demonstrate its effectiveness in somatic pediatric wards. Descriptive and statistical research indicates that art therapy can alleviate anxiety and fear, improve mood, and enhance communication among children, parents, and healthcare professionals. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the specific elements of art therapy that facilitate a connection with the healthier aspects of the self. Method A total of 12 hospitalized children, aged 4-12, participated in an art therapy session led by a certified art therapist. Verbalizations during the sessions were recorded, and subsequent observations were synchronized with verbatim transcriptions of audio recordings. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted to identify relevant patterns of meaning. Findings The study identified four significant dimensions of the children's experiences during art therapy: (1) The child feels safe, (2) The child becomes a competent artist, bursting with creativity, (3) The healthy child emerges, and (4) The child achieves something beyond its limits - a triumph. Discussion The active ingredients contributing to effective art therapy include the stimulation of creativity, guided art-making with scaffolding support, task variation, granting children control over the artistic process, encouragement of free expression, and the display of positive regard. This study also delves into the therapeutic alliance, emphasizing its role in facilitating children's learning, self-expression, concentration, and the creation of work they take pride in. Additionally, certain psychotherapy-like interactions, such as control-mastery dynamics, were observed. Nevertheless, more extensive research with larger sample sizes is required to draw broader conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Loreskär
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Educational and Psychological Counselling Service, Bergen Municipality, Bergen, Norway
| | - Per-Einar Binder
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Heldmann M, Rinckens C, Brüggemann N, Al-Khaled M, Münte TF. Creative thinking and cognitive estimation in Parkinson's disease. Neurol Res Pract 2024; 6:9. [PMID: 38355739 PMCID: PMC10868033 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-023-00304-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been reported to exhibit unusual bouts of creativity (e.g., painting, writing), in particular in the context of treatment with dopaminergic agents. Here we investigated divergent and convergent thinking thought to underlie creativity. In addition we assessed cognitive estimation. METHOD Twenty PD patients and 20 matched healthy control participants were subjected to the Guilford Alternate Uses task (divergent thinking), the remote associates task (convergent thinking) and two tests of cognitive estimation. RESULTS No group differences were found for the convergent thinking task, while the Guilford Alternate Uses task revealed a decreased number of correct responses and a reduced originality for PD patients. Originality in PD was correlated to total daily dose of dopaminergic medication. Moreover, both tasks of cognitive estimation showed an impairment in PD. CONCLUSION Only minor effects were found for psychometric indices of subprocesses of creative thinking, while estimation, relying on executive functioning, is impaired in PD. We suggest to take a product oriented view of creativity in further research on altered creative processes in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Heldmann
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Celia Rinckens
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Norbert Brüggemann
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Thomas F Münte
- Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany.
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The molecular genetic basis of creativity: a mini review and perspectives. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:1-16. [PMID: 35217895 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01649-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Although creativity is one of the defining features of human species, it is just the beginning of an ambitious attempt for psychologists to understand its genetic basis. With ongoing efforts, great progress has been achieved in molecular genetic studies of creativity. In this mini review, we highlighted recent molecular genetic findings for both domain-general and domain-specific creativity, and provided some perspectives for future studies. It is expected that this work will provide an update on the knowledge regarding the molecular genetic basis of creativity, and contribute to the further development of this field.
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Agnoli S, Mastria S, Zanon M, Corazza GE. Dopamine supports idea originality: the role of spontaneous eye blink rate on divergent thinking. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2023; 87:17-27. [PMID: 35141768 PMCID: PMC9873774 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01658-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a crucial role in human creative behaviour. Specifically, striatal dopamine seems to be associated with specific dimensions of divergent thinking performance, especially with categorical diversity (flexibility) of ideas. In experimental contexts, spontaneous Eye Blink Rate (sEBR) has been used as a proxy for striatal dopamine, and an inverted U-shape relationship between sEBR and flexibility has been demonstrated, such that a medium sEBR level predicts highest flexibility levels. The present study aimed at carrying out further investigations about the relationship between sEBR and idea generation through divergent thinking, specifically focusing on the relationship between idea originality and dopamine level, since originality is a key element for creativity. We asked 80 participants, whose sEBR at rest was measured, to perform an Alternative Uses Task (AUT) to measure their divergent thinking performance. Results revealed that the relationship between sEBR and originality, as measured through subjective ratings of external raters, followed an inverted U-shape function with medium sEBR being associated with highest originality scores. Moreover, and most importantly, we demonstrated that sEBR predicted originality through the mediation of flexibility. Our results provide further insights on the possible role of dopamine on divergent thinking performance, demonstrating that an adequate dopamine level may facilitate the generation of original ideas through the exploration of diverse conceptual categories (higher flexibility).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Agnoli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128, Trieste, Italy.
- Marconi Institute for Creativity (MIC), Villa Griffone, Via dei Celestini 1, 40037, Sasso Marconi, Italy.
| | - Serena Mastria
- Marconi Institute for Creativity (MIC), Villa Griffone, Via dei Celestini 1, 40037, Sasso Marconi, Italy
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Zanon
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati, SISSA, Trieste, Italy, Via Bonomea, 265, 34136
| | - Giovanni Emanuele Corazza
- Marconi Institute for Creativity (MIC), Villa Griffone, Via dei Celestini 1, 40037, Sasso Marconi, Italy
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy
- Université de Paris and Univ Gustave Eiffel, LaPEA, 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
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7
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Kenett YN, Humphries S, Chatterjee A. A Thirst for Knowledge: Grounding Curiosity, Creativity, and Aesthetics in Memory and Reward Neural Systems. CREATIVITY RESEARCH JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2023.2165748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoed N. Kenett
- Technion - Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Novaes FC, Natividade JC. The sexual selection of creativity: A nomological approach. Front Psychol 2023; 13:874261. [PMID: 36698589 PMCID: PMC9869285 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.874261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cultural innovations, such as tools and other technical articles useful for survival, imply that creativity is an outcome of evolution. However, the existence of purely ornamental items obfuscates the functional value of creativity. What is the functional or adaptive value of aesthetic and intellectual ornaments? Recent evidence shows a connection between ornamental creativity, an individual's attractiveness, and their reproductive success. However, this association is not sufficient for establishing that creativity in humans evolved by sexual selection. In this critical review, we synthesize findings from many disciplines about the mechanisms, ontogeny, phylogeny, and the function of creativity in sexual selection. Existing research indicates that creativity has the characteristics expected of a trait evolved by sexual selection: genetic basis, sexual dimorphism, wider variety in males, influence of sex hormones, dysfunctional expressions, an advantage in mating in humans and other animals, and psychological modules adapted to mating contexts. Future studies should investigate mixed findings in the existing literature, such as creativity not being found particularly attractive in a non-WEIRD society. Moreover, we identified remaining knowledge gaps and recommend that further research should be undertaken in the following areas: sexual and reproductive correlates of creativity in non-WEIRD societies, relationship between androgens, development, and creative expression, as well as the impact of ornamental, technical and everyday creativity on attractiveness. Evolutionary research should analyze whether being an evolved signal of genetic quality is the only way in which creativity becomes sexually selected and therefore passed on from generation to generation. This review has gone a long way toward integrating and enhancing our understanding of ornamental creativity as a possible sexual selected psychological trait.
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Budding D, Doornkamp S, Treur J. A Second-Order Adaptive Mental Network Model Relating Dreaming to Creativity. COGN SYST RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogsys.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Abstract
Abstract. The dynamic creativity framework (DCF) represents a new theoretical perspective for studying the creativity construct. This framework is based on the dynamic definition of creativity, and it has both theoretical and empirical implications. From a theoretical point of view, we review the characteristics of the dynamic creative process and its extension into the dynamic universal creative process, encompassing creativity at different layers of complexity. We discuss the key concept of creative potential, considering individual, sociocultural, and material viewpoints, and we show how the DCF is instrumental in clarifying the relationship between creativity and intelligence, between creativity and anticipation, as well as in introducing the concept of ‘organic creativity’. From the empirical perspective, we focus on the dynamic creative process broken down into four phases: i) drive, ii) information, iii) idea generation, iv) idea evaluation. We review results obtained through investigations accounting for the dynamic interplay between emotional and cognitive components defining creative performance for each. Experiments were conducted to measure the role of emotions and attention in driving the dynamic process, considering the processing of apparently irrelevant information and the interaction between idea generation and idea evaluation, always taking into account individual differences as measured through personality traits, performance variables, or lifetime achievement. Neurophysiological evidence is considered in discussing dynamic effects in divergent thinking, such as the serial order effect, as well as the possibility to enhance creative potential through neurofeedback. Finally, we report on the effects of different environments on the creative process, highlighting the dynamics produced by context-embeddedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Emanuele Corazza
- DEI-Marconi Institute for Creativity, University of Bologna, Italy
- Université Paris Cité and University Gustave Eiffel, LaPEA, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Sergio Agnoli
- DEI-Marconi Institute for Creativity, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Serena Mastria
- DEI-Marconi Institute for Creativity, University of Bologna, Italy
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Murali S, Händel B. Motor restrictions impair divergent thinking during walking and during sitting. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2022; 86:2144-2157. [PMID: 34997860 PMCID: PMC8742166 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-021-01636-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Creativity, specifically divergent thinking, has been shown to benefit from unrestrained walking. Despite these findings, it is not clear if it is the lack of restriction that leads to the improvement. Our goal was to explore the effects of motor restrictions on divergent thinking for different movement states. In addition, we assessed whether spontaneous eye blinks, which are linked to motor execution, also predict performance. In experiment 1, we compared the performance in Guilford’s alternate uses task (AUT) during walking vs. sitting, and analysed eye blink rates during both conditions. We found that AUT scores were higher during walking than sitting. Albeit eye blinks differed significantly between movement conditions (walking vs. sitting) and task phase (baseline vs. thinking vs. responding), they did not correlate with task performance. In experiment 2 and 3, participants either walked freely or in a restricted path, or sat freely or fixated on a screen. When the factor restriction was explicitly modulated, the effect of walking was reduced, while restriction showed a significant influence on the fluency scores. Importantly, we found a significant correlation between the rate of eye blinks and creativity scores between subjects, depending on the restriction condition. Our study shows a movement state-independent effect of restriction on divergent thinking. In other words, similar to unrestrained walking, unrestrained sitting also improves divergent thinking. Importantly, we discuss a mechanistic explanation of the effect of restriction on divergent thinking based on the increased size of the focus of attention and the consequent bias towards flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Murali
- Department of Psychology III, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Barbara Händel
- Department of Psychology III, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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12
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Adamaszek M, Cattaneo Z, Ciricugno A, Chatterjee A. The Cerebellum and Beauty: The Impact of the Cerebellum in Art Experience and Creativity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1378:213-233. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-99550-8_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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13
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Zhang S, Yang X, Si S, Zhang J. The neurobiological basis of divergent thinking: Insight from gene co-expression network-based analysis. Neuroimage 2021; 245:118762. [PMID: 34838948 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many efforts have been made to explore the genetic basis of divergent thinking (DT), there is still a gap in the understanding of how these findings relate to the neurobiology of DT. In a combined sample of 1,682 Chinese participants, by integrating GWAS with previously identified brain-specific gene co-expression network modules, this study explored for the first time the functional brain-specific gene co-expression networks underlying DT. The results showed that gene co-expression network modules in anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, amygdala and substantia nigra were enriched with DT association signals. Further functional enrichment analysis showed that these DT-related gene co-expression network modules were enriched for key biological process and cellular component related to myelination, suggesting that cortical and sub-cortical grey matter myelination may serve as important neurobiological basis of DT. Although the underlying mechanisms need to be further refined, this exploratory study may provide new insight into the neurobiology of DT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, No. 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Xiaolei Yang
- College of Life Science, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Si Si
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, No. 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Jinghuan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, No. 88 East Wenhua Road, Jinan 250014, China.
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McBride M, Appling C, Ferguson B, Gonzalez A, Schaeffer A, Zand A, Wang D, Sam A, Hart E, Tosh A, Fontcha I, Parmacek S, Beversdorf D. Effects of stimulant medication on divergent and convergent thinking tasks related to creativity in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:3533-3541. [PMID: 34477886 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05970-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Common pharmacological treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are central nervous system stimulants acting as norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors. The noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems have been shown to impact performance on tasks assessing creativity. Some previous studies suggest higher performance on creativity tasks in ADHD. Stimulant medication has been shown to differentially impact creativity in those without ADHD. However, the full range of effects of stimulant medication on creativity in those with ADHD is not known. OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of stimulants on convergent and divergent tasks associated with creativity in adults with ADHD. METHOD Seventeen adults diagnosed with ADHD who were prescribed stimulant medication attended two counterbalanced sessions: one after taking their prescribed stimulant dose and one after the dose was withheld. Participants completed convergent problem-solving (anagrams, Compound Remote Associates) and divergent generative (letter/semantic fluency, Torrance Test for Creative Thinking (TTCT)-Verbal) tasks. RESULTS There was a significant increase in words generated on the semantic fluency task for the stimulant session. Additionally, significant increases were found in the stimulant session for originality, flexibility, and fluency scores on the TTCT. Stimulant medication did not have an effect on any of the problem-solving tasks. CONCLUSIONS Stimulant medication enhanced verbal fluency in adults with ADHD but had no effect on convergent abilities. Furthermore, stimulants enhanced fluency, flexibility, and originality scores on the TTCT. Therefore, stimulants appear to have positive effects on divergent task performance in adults with ADHD, but not convergent tasks. This finding warrants further studies into the specific roles of norepinephrine and dopamine in this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly McBride
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Carrina Appling
- University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Bradley Ferguson
- University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Columbia, MO, USA.,Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Amanda Zand
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - David Wang
- School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alinna Sam
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Eric Hart
- Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Aneesh Tosh
- Department of Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Ivan Fontcha
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Sophia Parmacek
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - David Beversdorf
- School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. .,University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, Columbia, MO, USA. .,Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. .,Department of Health Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. .,Departments of Radiology, Neurology, and Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
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15
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Alcaro A, Brennan A, Conversi D. The SEEKING Drive and Its Fixation: A Neuro-Psycho-Evolutionary Approach to the Pathology of Addiction. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:635932. [PMID: 34475816 PMCID: PMC8406748 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.635932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuro-ethological studies conducted by Panksepp and his colleagues have provided an understanding of how the activity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic (ML DA) system leads to the emotional disposition to SEEK/Explore, which is involved in all appetitive motivated behavior and mental activity. In pathological addiction phenomena, this emotional disposition “fixes” itself on certain obsessive-compulsive habits, losing its versatility and its natural predisposition to spontaneous and unconditioned activation. Overall, the result is a consistent disinterest in everything that is not the object of addiction. From a neuro-psycho-evolutionary point of view, the predisposition to develop addictive behavior can be attributed to a loss of “functional autonomy” of the SEEKING/Explorative disposition. Indeed, as shown by animal and human studies, the tendency to be conditioned by situations and contexts that provide an immediate reward can be closely related to a deficit in the tonic endogenous activity of the ML DA-SEEKING system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Alcaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - David Conversi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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16
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van de Kamp M, Admiraal W, Coertjens L, Goossens M, Rijlaarsdam G. The Relationship of Types of Exploration Activities with Originality of Visual Arts Designs. JOURNAL OF CREATIVE BEHAVIOR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jocb.519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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17
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Chong A, Tolomeo S, Xiong Y, Angeles D, Cheung M, Becker B, Lai PS, Lei Z, Malavasi F, Tang Q, Chew SH, Ebstein RP. Blending oxytocin and dopamine with everyday creativity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16185. [PMID: 34376746 PMCID: PMC8355306 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95724-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Converging evidence suggests that oxytocin (OT) is associated with creative thinking (CT) and that release of OT depends on ADP ribosyl-cyclases (CD38 and CD157). Neural mechanisms of CT and OT show a strong association with dopaminergic (DA) pathways, yet the link between CT and CD38, CD157, dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) peripheral gene expression remain inconclusive, thus limiting our understanding of the neurobiology of CT. To address this issue, two principal domains of CT, divergent thinking (AUT), were assessed. In men, both AUT is associated with gene expression of CD38, CD157, and their interaction CD38 × CD157. There were no significant associations for DA expression (DRD2, COMT, DRD2 × COMT) on both CT measures. However, analysis of the interactions of OT and DA systems reveal significant interactions for AUT in men. The full model explained a sizable 39% of the variance in females for the total CT score. The current findings suggest that OT and DA gene expression contributed significantly to cognition and CT phenotype. This provides the first empirical foundation of a more refined understanding of the molecular landscape of CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Chong
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Serenella Tolomeo
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yue Xiong
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dario Angeles
- Laboratory of Human Genetics, Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mike Cheung
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Benjamin Becker
- MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu, China
| | - Poh San Lai
- Laboratory of Human Genetics, Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhen Lei
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), Chengdu, China
| | - Fabio Malavasi
- Department of Medical Science, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Fondazione Ricerca Molinette, Turin, Italy
| | - Qianzi Tang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Soo Hong Chew
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), Chengdu, China
- Department of Economics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Richard P Ebstein
- CCBEF (China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance), Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), Chengdu, China.
- College of Economics and Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China.
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18
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Subcortical structures and visual divergent thinking: a resting-state functional MRI analysis. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2617-2627. [PMID: 34342689 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02355-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have found that a few, specific subcortical regions are involved in creative visual divergent thinking. In addition, creative thinking is heavily reliant on the fronto-striatal dopaminergic pathways. This study aimed to explore whether spontaneous fluctuations in the subcortex, which contribute to our creative abilities, showed significant differences between individuals with different levels of creativity based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. We calculated subcortical regions' seed-wise and dynamic functional connectivity (dFC), and then examined the differences between the high and low visual creativity groups. Furthermore, the topological properties of the subcortical network were measured, and their relationship with creative visual divergent thinking was calculated using brain-behavior correlation analyses. The results showed that functional connectivity (FC) between the putamen, pallidum, and thalamus indicated group differences within the subcortex. Whole-brain FC results showed group differences across subcortical (i.e., the thalamus and pallidum) and cerebral regions (i.e., the insula, middle frontal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus). In addition, subcortical FC demonstrated a positive correlation with visual divergent thinking scores across the pallidum, putamen, and thalamus. Our findings provide novel insights into the relationship between visual divergent thinking and the activities of the subcortex. It is likely that not only fronto-striatal dopaminergic pathways, but also "motor" pathways, are involved in creative visual divergent thinking processing.
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19
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Blake A, Palmisano S. Divergent Thinking Influences the Perception of Ambiguous Visual Illusions. Perception 2021; 50:418-437. [PMID: 33779399 DOI: 10.1177/03010066211000192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the relationships between personality and creativity in the perception of two different ambiguous visual illusions. Previous research has suggested that Industriousness and Openness/Intellect (as measured by the Big Five Aspects Scale) are both associated with individual differences in perceptual switching rates for binocular rivalry stimuli. Here, we examined whether these relationships generalise to the Necker Cube and the Spinning Dancer illusions. In the experimental phase of this study, participants viewed these ambiguous figures under both static and dynamic, as well as free-view and fixation, conditions. As predicted, perceptual switching rates were higher: (a) for the static Necker Cube than the Spinning Dancer, and (b) in free-view compared with fixation conditions. In the second phase of the study, personality type and divergent thinking were measured using the Big Five Aspects Scale and the Alternate Uses Task, respectively. Higher creativity/divergent thinking (as measured by the Alternate Uses Task) was found to predict greater switching rates for the static Necker Cube (but not the Spinning Dancer) under both free-view and fixation conditions. These findings suggest that there are differences in the perceptual processing of creative individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Blake
- School of Psychology, 8691University of Wollongong, Australia
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20
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Kleinkorres R, Forthmann B, Holling H. An Experimental Approach to Investigate the Involvement of Cognitive Load in Divergent Thinking. J Intell 2021; 9:jintelligence9010003. [PMID: 33430304 PMCID: PMC7838919 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence9010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Up to now, support for the idea that a controlled component exists in creative thought has mainly been supported by correlational studies; to further shed light on this issue, we employed an experimental approach. We used four alternate uses tasks that differed in instruction type ("be fluent" vs. "be creative") and concurrent secondary workload (load vs. no load). A total of 51 participants (39 female) went through all tasks and generated ideas for a total of 16 different objects; their responses were scored in terms of fluency (number of responses generated), creative quality, and flexibility. We did find, as expected, that the be-creative instruction resulted in fewer and more creative ideas, as well as more flexible idea sets, but neither of the expected interaction effects became significant. Specifically, fluency was not affected more strongly by secondary workload in the be-fluent instruction condition than in the be-creative instruction condition. Further, the performance drop evoked by the secondary workload was not stronger in the be-creative instruction condition compared to the be-fluent instruction condition when creative quality or flexibility were examined as dependent variable. Altogether, our results do not confirm that be-creative instructions involve more cognitive load than be-fluent instructions. Nevertheless, the analysis of the serial order effect and additional correlational examinations revealed some promising results. Methodological limitations which may have influenced the results are discussed in light of the inherent suspense between internal and external validity (i.e., most likely the applied self-paced dual-task approach increased external validity, but undermined internal validity) and potentially guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Kleinkorres
- Center for Research on Education and School Development, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany;
| | - Boris Forthmann
- Institute of Psychology in Education, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Heinz Holling
- Institute of Psychology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
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21
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Sharpe RLS, Mahmud M, Kaiser MS, Chen J. Gamma entrainment frequency affects mood, memory and cognition: an exploratory pilot study. Brain Inform 2020; 7:17. [PMID: 33226543 PMCID: PMC7683678 DOI: 10.1186/s40708-020-00119-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we provide evidence with an exploratory pilot study that through the use of a Gamma 40 Hz entrainment frequency, mood, memory and cognition can be improved with respect to a 9-participant cohort. Participants constituted towards three binaural entrainment frequency groups: the 40 Hz, 25 Hz and 100 Hz. Participants attended a total of eight entrainment frequency sessions twice over the duration of a 4-week period. Additionally, participants were assessed based on their cognitive abilities, mood as well as memory, where the cognitive and memory assessments occurred before and after a 5-min binaural beat stimulation. The mood assessment scores were collected from sessions 1, 4 and 8, respectively. With respect to the Gamma 40 Hz entrainment frequency population, we observed a mean improvement in cognitive scores, elevating from 75% average to 85% average upon conclusion of the experimentation at weak statistical significance ([Formula: see text] = 0.10, p = 0.076). Similarly, memory score improvements at a greater significance ([Formula: see text] = 0.05, p = 0.0027) were noted, elevating from an average of 87% to 95%. In pertinence to the mood scores, a negative correlation across all populations were noted, inferring an overall increase in mood due to lower scores correlating with elevated mood. Finally, correlation analysis revealed a stronger R[Formula: see text] value (0.9838) within the 40 Hz group between sessions as well as mood score when compared across the entire frequency group cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan L. S. Sharpe
- Department of Computer Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Mufti Mahmud
- Department of Computer Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
- Medical Technology Innovation Facility, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - M. Shamim Kaiser
- Institute of Information Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, 1342 Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jianhui Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of MRI and Brain Informatics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124 China
- Beijing International Collaboration Base on Brain Informatics and Wisdom Services, Beijing, China
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22
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Si S, Zhang S, Zhang J. DRD2 Taq IA Polymorphism Interacts with Parenting in Predicting Creativity: Evidence of Differential Susceptibility. CREATIVITY RESEARCH JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2020.1821550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Si Si
- Shandong Normal University
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23
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Creativity and ADHD: A review of behavioral studies, the effect of psychostimulants and neural underpinnings. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 119:66-85. [PMID: 33035524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a debilitating disorder and most research therefore focuses on its deficits and its treatment. Research on the potential positive sides of ADHD is limited, and although a comprehensive overview of empirical studies on this subject is missing, it has been suggested that ADHD is associated with enhanced creativity. To identify important relations, trends and gaps in the literature, we review 31 behavioral studies on creativity and ADHD, distinguishing different research designs, age groups, creativity measurements and effects of psychostimulants, as well as reflecting the potential underlying neural mechanisms of creativity and ADHD. Most studies find evidence for increased divergent thinking for those with high ADHD scores (subclinical) but not for those with the disorder (clinical). The rates of creative abilities/achievements were high among both clinical and subclinical groups. We found no evidence for increased convergent thinking abilities in ADHD, nor did we find an overall negative effect of psychostimulants on creativity. Neuroscientific findings suggest candidate regions as well as mechanisms that should be studied further to increase our understanding of the relationship between creativity and ADHD. We propose research opportunities to boost the knowledge needed to better understand the potential positive side of ADHD.
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24
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Stolte M, García T, Van Luit JEH, Oranje B, Kroesbergen EH. The Contribution of Executive Functions in Predicting Mathematical Creativity in Typical Elementary School Classes: A Twofold Role for Updating. J Intell 2020; 8:jintelligence8020026. [PMID: 32498391 PMCID: PMC7713010 DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence8020026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to investigate the role of executive functions in mathematical creativity. The sample included 278 primary school children (ages 8–13). Two models were compared: the starting model tested whether executive functions (shifting, updating, and inhibition), domain-general creativity, and mathematical ability directly predicted mathematical creativity. The second model, which fitted the data best, included the additional assumption that updating influences mathematical creativity indirectly through mathematical ability and domain-general creativity. Updating was positively related to mathematical creativity. Additionally, updating was positively related to mathematical ability and domain-general creativity. Inhibition, shifting, domain-general creativity and mathematical ability did not have a significant contribution to either model but did positively correlate with mathematical creativity. This study reports the first empirical evidence that updating is a predictor of mathematical creativity in primary school children and demonstrates that creativity is a higher order cognitive process, activating a variety of cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marije Stolte
- Department of Orthopedagogics: Cognitive and Motor Disabilities, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584CS Utrecht, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-30-253-2129
| | - Trinidad García
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Johannes E. H. Van Luit
- Department of Orthopedagogics: Cognitive and Motor Disabilities, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584CS Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Bob Oranje
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Evelyn H. Kroesbergen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, PO Box 9104, 6500HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
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25
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Genetic susceptibility to parenting style: DRD2 and COMT influence creativity. Neuroimage 2020; 213:116681. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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26
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Baas M, Boot N, van Gaal S, de Dreu CK, Cools R. Methylphenidate does not affect convergent and divergent creative processes in healthy adults. Neuroimage 2020; 205:116279. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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27
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Effect of the Gamma Entrainment Frequency in Pertinence to Mood, Memory and Cognition. Brain Inform 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-59277-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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28
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Nesic MJ, Stojkovic B, Maric NP. On the origin of schizophrenia: Testing evolutionary theories in the post-genomic era. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:723-730. [PMID: 31525268 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Considering the relatively high heritability of schizophrenia and the fact that it significantly reduces the reproductive fitness of affected individuals, it is not clear how the disorder is still maintained in human populations at a disproportionally high prevalence. Many theories propose that the disorder is a result of a trade-off between costs and benefits of the evolution of exclusively human adaptations. There have also been suggestions that schizophrenia risk alleles are accompanied with increase in fitness of affected persons or their relatives in both past and current social contexts. The discoveries of novel schizophrenia-related genes and the advancements in comparative genomics (especially comparisons of the human genome and the genomes of related species, such as chimpanzees and extinct hominids) have finally made certain evolutionary theories testable. In this paper, we review the current understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, the basic principles of evolution that complement our understanding of the subject, and the latest genetic studies that examine long-standing evolutionary theories of schizophrenia using novel methodologies and data. We find that the origin of schizophrenia is complex and likely governed by different evolutionary mechanisms that are not mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the most recent evidence implies that schizophrenia cannot be comprehended as a trait that has elevated fitness in human evolutionary lineage, but has been a mildly deleterious by-product of specific patterns of the evolution of the human brain. In other words, novel findings do not support previous hypotheses stating that schizophrenia risk genes have an evolutionary advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica J Nesic
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Biljana Stojkovic
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nadja P Maric
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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29
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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.
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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
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30
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Modulations in resting state networks of subcortical structures linked to creativity. Neuroimage 2019; 195:311-319. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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31
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32
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33
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Yang X, Zhang J, Zhang S. No association of COMT with insight problem solving in Chinese college students. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6755. [PMID: 31024766 PMCID: PMC6472467 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes involved in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, such as the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT), have been suggested as key genetic candidates that might underlie the genetic basis of insight. In a sample of Chinese college students, this study examined whether COMT was associated with individual differences in the ability to solve classic insight problems. The results demonstrated that COMT was not associated with insight problem solving and there was no gender-dependent effect. This study, together with previous studies, raises the possibility of a complex relationship between COMT and insight problem solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Yang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- College of Life Science, Qilu Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinghuan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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34
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Khalil R, Godde B, Karim AA. The Link Between Creativity, Cognition, and Creative Drives and Underlying Neural Mechanisms. Front Neural Circuits 2019; 13:18. [PMID: 30967763 PMCID: PMC6440443 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2019.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Having a creative mind is one of the gateways for achieving fabulous success and remarkable progress in professional, personal and social life. Therefore, a better understanding of the neural correlates and the underlying neural mechanisms related to creative ideation is crucial and valuable. However, the current literature on neural systems and circuits underlying creative cognition, and on how creative drives such as motivation, mood states, and reward could shape our creative mind through the associated neuromodulatory systems [i.e., the dopaminergic (DA), the noradrenergic (NE) and the serotonergic (5-HT) system] seems to be insufficient to explain the creative ideation and production process. One reason might be that the mentioned systems and processes are usually investigated in isolation and independent of each other. Through this review, we aim at advancing the current state of knowledge by providing an integrative view on the interactions between neural systems underlying the creative cognition and the creative drive and associated neuromodulatory systems (see Figure 1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Khalil
- Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ben Godde
- Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ahmed A Karim
- Department of Psychology and Methods, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Health Psychology and Neurorehabilitation, SRH Mobile University, Riedlingen, Germany
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35
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Alcaro A, Carta S. The "Instinct" of Imagination. A Neuro-Ethological Approach to the Evolution of the Reflective Mind and Its Application to Psychotherapy. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 12:522. [PMID: 30728771 PMCID: PMC6351487 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent neuro-psychoanalytic literature has emphasized the view that our subjective identity rests on ancient subcortical neuro-psychic processes expressing unthinking forms of experience, which are “affectively intense without being known” (Solms and Panksepp, 2012). Devoid of internal representations, the emotional states of our “core-Self” (Panksepp, 1998b) are entirely “projected” towards the external world and tend to be discharged through instinctual action-patterns. However, due to the close connections between the subcortical and the cortical midline brain, the emotional drives may also find a way to be reflected within an intrinsic self-referential processing, evident when the organism is not actively engaged with the external world. Thanks to such endogenous functioning, the core-Self emotional dispositions are not overtly executed, but they are organized within coherent dynamic mental structures, called “feeling-toned complexes” by C. G. Jung and “unconscious phantasies” by Melanie Klein. The intrinsic self-referential dynamism of the “brainmind” originated from REM sleep arousal and then evolved in the resting-state activity of a complex of cortico-limbic midline brain structures (CMS), also called Default Mode Network (DMN). From our neuro-ethological perspective, it is sustained by an “introverted” SEEKING activity leading to the subjective exploration of internally constructed virtual scenarios. This “mind wandering” function, implicated in dreaming, fantasy processing, remembering and thinking, is the essence of the imaginative function and constitutes the first form of reflection, where intentions and drives gain a primordial form of conscious (but not self-conscious) representation. During postnatal development, this original (“archetypal”) imaginative function is slowly attuned in a relational “transitional” space and may be expressed first in non-verbal and eventually in abstract-verbal social communicative patterns. Our view has noticeable implications for psychotherapy. Instead of trying to directly modify interpersonal, extrinsic relationships (a top-down approach), dysfunctional emotional-relational patterns may be modified by a process in which the patient is helped to let-go of the perceived feeling-objects in favor of an immersion, via the actual feeling, from the superficial level of perception towards a void feeling-state, empty of images. Only starting from this “anoetic” feeling-state, the deep imaginal creative and re-structuring self-referential activity may be reactivated by a process of spontaneous imagination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Alcaro
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Carta
- Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, and Philosophy, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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36
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Why would Parkinson's disease lead to sudden changes in creativity, motivation, or style with visual art?: A review of case evidence and new neurobiological, contextual, and genetic hypotheses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 100:129-165. [PMID: 30629980 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a devastating diagnosis with, however, potential for an extremely intriguing aesthetic component. Despite motor and cognitive deficits, an emerging collection of studies report a burst of visual artistic output and alterations in produced art in a subgroup of patients. This provides a unique window into the neurophysiological bases for why and how we might create and enjoy visual art, as well as into general brain function and the nature of PD or other neurodegenerative diseases. However, there has not been a comprehensive organization of literature on this topic. Nor has there been an attempt to connect case evidence and knowledge on PD with present understanding of visual art making in psychology and neuroaesthetics in order to propose hypotheses for documented artistic changes. Here, we collect the current research on this topic, tie this to PD symptoms and neurobiology, and provide new theories focusing on dopaminergic neuron damage, over-stimulation from dopamine agonist therapy, and context or genetic factors revealing the neurobiological basis of the visual artistic brain.
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37
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Lin H, Vartanian O. A Neuroeconomic Framework for Creative Cognition. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2018; 13:655-677. [DOI: 10.1177/1745691618794945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neuroeconomics is the study of the neurobiological bases of subjective preferences and choices. We present a novel framework that synthesizes findings from the literatures on neuroeconomics and creativity to provide a neurobiological description of creative cognition. We propose that value-based decision-making processes and activity in the locus ceruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) neuromodulatory system underlie creative cognition, as well as the large-scale brain network dynamics shown to be associated with creativity. This reconceptualization leads to several falsifiable hypotheses that can further understanding of creativity, decision making, and brain network dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hause Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
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Rooij A, Vromans RD. The (Dis)Pleasures of Creativity: Spontaneous Eye Blink Rate during Divergent and Convergent Thinking Depends on Individual Differences in Positive and Negative Affect. JOURNAL OF CREATIVE BEHAVIOR 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/jocb.379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Tik M, Sladky R, Luft CDB, Willinger D, Hoffmann A, Banissy MJ, Bhattacharya J, Windischberger C. Ultra-high-field fMRI insights on insight: Neural correlates of the Aha!-moment. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:3241-3252. [PMID: 29665228 PMCID: PMC6055807 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Finding creative solutions to difficult problems is a fundamental aspect of human culture and a skill highly needed. However, the exact neural processes underlying creative problem solving remain unclear. Insightful problem solving tasks were shown to be a valid method for investigating one subcomponent of creativity: the Aha!-moment. Finding insightful solutions during a remote associates task (RAT) was found to elicit specific cortical activity changes. Considering the strong affective components of Aha!-moments, as manifested in the subjectively experienced feeling of relief following the sudden emergence of the solution of the problem without any conscious forewarning, we hypothesized the subcortical dopaminergic reward network to be critically engaged during Aha. To investigate those subcortical contributions to insight, we employed ultra-high-field 7 T fMRI during a German Version of the RAT. During this task, subjects were exposed to word triplets and instructed to find a solution word being associated with all the three given words. They were supposed to press a button as soon as they felt confident about their solution without further revision, allowing us to capture the exact event of Aha!-moment. Besides the finding on cortical involvement of the left anterior middle temporal gyrus (aMTG), here we showed for the first time robust subcortical activity changes related to insightful problem solving in the bilateral thalamus, hippocampus, and the dopaminergic midbrain comprising ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and caudate nucleus. These results shed new light on the affective neural mechanisms underlying insightful problem solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Tik
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of ViennaWienAustria
| | - Ronald Sladky
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of ViennaWienAustria
| | - Caroline Di Bernardi Luft
- Queen Mary University of LondonSchool of Biological and Chemical SciencesLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of PsychologyGoldsmiths University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - David Willinger
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of ViennaWienAustria
| | - André Hoffmann
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of ViennaWienAustria
| | - Michael J Banissy
- Queen Mary University of LondonSchool of Biological and Chemical SciencesLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Christian Windischberger
- MR Center of Excellence, Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of ViennaWienAustria
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Han W, Zhang M, Feng X, Gong G, Peng K, Zhang D. Genetic influences on creativity: an exploration of convergent and divergent thinking. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5403. [PMID: 30083479 PMCID: PMC6071619 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies on the genetic basis of creativity have mainly focused on the biological mechanisms of divergent thinking, possibly limiting the exploration of possible candidate genes. Taking a cognition-based perspective, the present study investigated the genetic basis for both the divergent and the convergent thinking components of creativity. A total of 321 Chinese university students were recruited to complete the Guildford Unusual Using Test (UUT) for divergent thinking capability and the Remote Associates Test (RAT) for convergent thinking capability. The polymorphism of rs2576037 in KATNAL2 was related to the fluency and originality component scores of UUT, and the polymorphism of rs5993883 in COMT, rs362584 in SNAP25 was related to the RAT performance. These effects remained significant after considering the influence of age, gender and intelligence. Our results provide new evidence for the genetic basis of creativity and reveal the important role of gene polymorphisms in divergent and convergent thinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Han
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Mi Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Feng
- Education College, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | | | - Kaiping Peng
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Liu Z, Zhang J, Xie X, Rolls ET, Sun J, Zhang K, Jiao Z, Chen Q, Zhang J, Qiu J, Feng J. Neural and genetic determinants of creativity. Neuroimage 2018. [PMID: 29518564 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.02.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Creative thinking plays a vital role in almost all aspects of human life. However, little is known about the neural and genetic mechanisms underlying creative thinking. Based on a cross-validation based predictive framework, we searched from the whole-brain connectome (34,716 functional connectivities) and whole genome data (309,996 SNPs) in two datasets (all collected by Southwest University, Chongqing) consisting of altogether 236 subjects, for a better understanding of the brain and genetic underpinning of creativity. Using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking score, we found that high figural creativity is mainly related to high functional connectivity between the executive control, attention, and memory retrieval networks (strong top-down effects); and to low functional connectivity between the default mode network, the ventral attention network, and the subcortical and primary sensory networks (weak bottom-up processing) in the first dataset (consisting of 138 subjects). High creativity also correlates significantly with mutations of genes coding for both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Combining the brain connectome and the genomic data we can predict individuals' creativity scores with an accuracy of 78.4%, which is significantly better than prediction using single modality data (gene or functional connectivity), indicating the importance of combining multi-modality data. Our neuroimaging prediction model built upon the first dataset was cross-validated by a completely new dataset of 98 subjects (r = 0.267, p = 0.0078) with an accuracy of 64.6%. In addition, the creativity-related functional connectivity network we identified in the first dataset was still significantly correlated with the creativity score in the new dataset (p<10-3). In summary, our research demonstrates that strong top-down control versus weak bottom-up processes underlie creativity, which is modulated by competition between the glutamate and GABA neurotransmitter systems. Our work provides the first insights into both the neural and the genetic bases of creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowen Liu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710071, Shannxi, PR China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Xiaohua Xie
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Edmund T Rolls
- Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; Oxford Centre for Computational Neuroscience, Oxford UK
| | - Jiangzhou Sun
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, PR China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, PR China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University, 1801 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Zeyu Jiao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai, 200433, PR China
| | - Qunlin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, PR China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, PR China
| | - Junying Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710071, Shannxi, PR China.
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing, PR China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, PR China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
| | - Jianfeng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China; Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, PR China; Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai, 200433, PR China; Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, PR China.
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Prochazkova L, Lippelt DP, Colzato LS, Kuchar M, Sjoerds Z, Hommel B. Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:3401-3413. [PMID: 30357434 PMCID: PMC6267140 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5049-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Taking microdoses (a mere fraction of normal doses) of psychedelic substances, such as truffles, recently gained popularity, as it allegedly has multiple beneficial effects including creativity and problem-solving performance, potentially through targeting serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors and promoting cognitive flexibility, crucial to creative thinking. Nevertheless, enhancing effects of microdosing remain anecdotal, and in the absence of quantitative research on microdosing psychedelics, it is impossible to draw definitive conclusions on that matter. Here, our main aim was to quantitatively explore the cognitive-enhancing potential of microdosing psychedelics in healthy adults. METHODS During a microdosing event organized by the Dutch Psychedelic Society, we examined the effects of psychedelic truffles (which were later analyzed to quantify active psychedelic alkaloids) on two creativity-related problem-solving tasks: the Picture Concept Task assessing convergent thinking and the Alternative Uses Task assessing divergent thinking. A short version of the Ravens Progressive Matrices task assessed potential changes in fluid intelligence. We tested once before taking a microdose and once while the effects were expected to be manifested. RESULTS We found that both convergent and divergent thinking performance was improved after a non-blinded microdose, whereas fluid intelligence was unaffected. CONCLUSION While this study provides quantitative support for the cognitive-enhancing properties of microdosing psychedelics, future research has to confirm these preliminary findings in more rigorous placebo-controlled study designs. Based on these preliminary results, we speculate that psychedelics might affect cognitive metacontrol policies by optimizing the balance between cognitive persistence and flexibility. We hope this study will motivate future microdosing studies with more controlled designs to test this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Prochazkova
- Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Dominique P. Lippelt
- Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenza S. Colzato
- Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands ,Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany ,Institute for Sports and Sport Science, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - Martin Kuchar
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czech Republic ,Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Zsuzsika Sjoerds
- Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Francis G, Bachmann T. Registered reports for Consciousness and Cognition. Conscious Cogn 2017; 57:A1-A3. [PMID: 29054786 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Francis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, United States.
| | - Talis Bachmann
- School of Law, Department of Penal Law and Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
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Boot N, Baas M, van Gaal S, Cools R, De Dreu CKW. Creative cognition and dopaminergic modulation of fronto-striatal networks: Integrative review and research agenda. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 78:13-23. [PMID: 28419830 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Creative cognition is key to human functioning yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are sparsely addressed and poorly understood. Here we address the possibility that creative cognition is a function of dopaminergic modulation in fronto-striatal brain circuitries. It is proposed that (i) creative cognition benefits from both flexible and persistent processing, (ii) striatal dopamine and the integrity of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway is associated with flexible processing, while (iii) prefrontal dopamine and the integrity of the mesocortical dopaminergic pathway is associated with persistent processing. We examine this possibility in light of studies linking creative ideation, divergent thinking, and creative problem-solving to polymorphisms in dopamine receptor genes, indirect markers and manipulations of the dopaminergic system, and clinical populations with dysregulated dopaminergic activity. Combined, studies suggest a functional differentiation between striatal and prefrontal dopamine: moderate (but not low or high) levels of striatal dopamine benefit creative cognition by facilitating flexible processes, and moderate (but not low or high) levels of prefrontal dopamine enable persistence-driven creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Boot
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Matthijs Baas
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simon van Gaal
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, The Netherlands
| | - Roshan Cools
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten K W De Dreu
- Department of Psychology, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands; Center for Experimental Economics and Political Decision Making (CREED), University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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45
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Zhang S, Zhang J. The Association of DRD2 with Insight Problem Solving. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1865. [PMID: 27933030 PMCID: PMC5121534 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the insight phenomenon has attracted great attention from psychologists, it is still largely unknown whether its variation in well-functioning human adults has a genetic basis. Several lines of evidence suggest that genes involved in dopamine (DA) transmission might be potential candidates. The present study explored for the first time the association of dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) with insight problem solving. Fifteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering DRD2 were genotyped in 425 unrelated healthy Chinese undergraduates, and were further tested for association with insight problem solving. Both single SNP and haplotype analysis revealed several associations of DRD2 SNPs and haplotypes with insight problem solving. In conclusion, the present study provides the first evidence for the involvement of DRD2 in insight problem solving, future studies are necessary to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University Jinan, China
| | - Jinghuan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University Jinan, China
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46
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Schweizer TS, Schmalenberger KM, Eisenlohr-Moul TA, Mojzisch A, Kaiser S, Funke J. Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Creative Option Generation in Everyday Life Situations. Front Psychol 2016; 7:1132. [PMID: 27536258 PMCID: PMC4971016 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Which factors influence a human being’s ability to develop new perspectives and be creative? This ability is pivotal for any context in which new cognitions are required, such as innovative endeavors in science and art, or psychotherapeutic settings. In this article, we seek to bring together two research programs investigating the generation of creative options: On the one hand, research on option generation in the decision-making literature and, on the other hand, cognitive and clinical creativity research. Previous decision-making research has largely neglected the topic of generating creative options. Experiments typically provided participants with a clear set of options to choose from, but everyday life situations are less structured and allow countless ways to react. Before choosing an option, agents have to self-generate a set of options to choose from. Such option generation processes have only recently moved to the center of attention. The present study examines the creative quality of self-generated options in daily life situations. A student sample (N = 48) generated options for action in 70 briefly described everyday life scenarios. We rated the quality of the options on three dimensions of creativity- originality, feasibility, and divergence -and linked these qualities to option generation fluency (speed and number of generated options), situational features like the familiarity and the affective valence of the situation in which the options were generated, and trait measures of cognitive performance. We found that when situations were familiar to the participant, greater negative affective valence of the situation was associated with more originality and divergence of generated options. We also found that a higher option generation fluency was associated with a greater maximal originality of options. We complete our article with a joint research agenda for researchers in the decision-making field focusing on option generation and, on the other hand, researchers working on the cognitive and clinical aspects of creativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sophie Schweizer
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja M Schmalenberger
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tory A Eisenlohr-Moul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
| | - Andreas Mojzisch
- Institute of Psychology, Department of Educational and Social Sciences, University of Hildesheim Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Kaiser
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Funke
- Institute of Psychology, University of Heidelberg Heidelberg, Germany
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Goldberg LA, Rucker FJ. Opposing effects of atropine and timolol on the color and luminance emmetropization mechanisms in chicks. Vision Res 2016; 122:1-11. [PMID: 26971621 PMCID: PMC4861675 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study analyzed the luminance and color emmetropization response in chicks treated with the nonselective parasympathetic antagonist atropine and the sympathetic β-receptor blocker timolol. Chicks were binocularly exposed (8h/day) for 4days to one of three illumination conditions: 2Hz sinusoidal luminance flicker, 2Hz sinusoidal blue/yellow color flicker, or steady light (mean 680lux). Atropine experiments involved monocular daily injections of either 20μl of atropine (18nmol) or 20μl of phosphate-buffered saline. Timolol experiments involved monocular daily applications of 2 drops of 0.5% timolol or 2 drops of distilled H2O. Changes in the experimental eye were compared with those in the fellow eye after correction for the effects of saline/water treatments. Atropine caused a reduction in axial length with both luminance flicker (-0.078±0.021mm) and color flicker (-0.054±0.017mm), and a reduction in vitreous chamber depth with luminance flicker (-0.095±0.023mm), evoking a hyperopic shift in refraction (3.40±1.77D). Timolol produced an increase in axial length with luminance flicker (0.045±0.030mm) and a myopic shift in refraction (-4.07±0.92D), while color flicker caused a significant decrease in axial length (-0.046±0.017mm) that was associated with choroidal thinning (-0.046±0.015mm). The opposing effects on growth and refraction seen with atropine and timolol suggest a balancing mechanism between the parasympathetic and β-receptor mediated sympathetic system through stimulation of the retina with luminance and color contrast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Goldberg
- New England College of Optometry, 424 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
| | - Frances J Rucker
- New England College of Optometry, 424 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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