Creative Cognition and Brain Network Dynamics

Abstract

Creative thinking is central to the arts, sciences, and everyday life. How does the brain produce creative thought? A series of recently published papers has begun to provide insight into this question, reporting a strikingly similar pattern of brain activity and connectivity across a range of creative tasks and domains, from divergent thinking to poetry composition to musical improvisation. This research suggests that creative thought involves dynamic interactions of large-scale brain systems, with the most compelling finding being that the default and executive control networks, which can show an antagonistic relation, tend to cooperate during creative cognition and artistic performance. These findings have implications for understanding how brain networks interact to support complex cognitive processes, particularly those involving goal-directed, self-generated thought.

Keywords: connectivity; creativity; expertise; imagination; improvisation; networks.

Figure 1. Functional Connectivity Associated with Divergent Thinking

(A) Whole-brain multivariate pattern analysis contrasting alternate uses divergent thinking with object characteristic generation. Brain maps show differential functional connectivity patterns during divergent thinking. (B) The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) shows increased connectivity with regions of the control (DLPFC) and salience (insula) networks during divergent thinking. (C) The PCC (black sphere) shows early coupling with salience network regions (bilateral insulae) and later coupling with control network regions (DLPFC). Regions labeled in black on the right show positive connectivity with the source ROI; regions labeled in gray were not significant. Adapted from [26].

Figure 2. Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Connectivity During Musical Improvisation

The right DLPFC (green) shows differential connectivity as a function of task goals during musical improvisation in professional pianists. (A) Functional connectivity associated with the goal of using specific sets of piano keys; brain maps show increased coupling between the right DLPFC and motor regions (e.g., dorsal pre-motor area and the pre-supplementary motor area). (B) Functional connectivity associated with the goal of expressing specific emotions; brain maps show increased coupling between the right DLPFC and default network regions (e.g., MPFC, PCC, and bilateral IPL). Adapted from [35].

Figure 3. Brain Network Connections Associated with Poetry Generation and Revision

(A) Independent Component Analysis (ICA) identified 53 functional networks associated with poetry composition in professional poets; these networks formed five hierarchical clusters. (B) Hierarchical clusters 2 (red box) and 4 (purple box) are depicted, along with examples of their respective components (functional networks). Note that cluster 2 included default network regions (MPFC) and cluster 4 included control network regions (DLPFC and IPS). (C) Clusters 2 and 4 were negatively correlated during the generation of new poetry (GNP); this correlation increased significantly during the revision of new poetry (RNP). Adapted from [34].