The neural underpinnings of cross-cultural differences in creativity

Abstract

Whereas Western individualistic cultures emphasize uniqueness, collectivistic East-Asian cultures discourage it. Here we examined whether cross-cultural differences in creativity as measured by a task of divergent thinking (DT) are explained by enhanced activity in brain regions that mediate inhibitory control (e.g., the left inferior frontal gyrus [L-IFG]). We therefore predicted that the L-IFG would be "hyperactive" among individuals from East-Asian cultures compared to Western ones. In Study 1, Israeli and South Korean participants were compared on a classic DT task (AUT; "Alternate uses: Manual of instructions and interpretation"). Israelis generated more original ideas compared to South Koreans. In Study 2, Israeli participants and South Korean participants currently living in Israel were scanned while performing the AUT. In line with previous studies, the results indicate that generation of original ideas across cultures is associated with activation of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), which is part of the default mode network (DMN). As hypothesized, South Koreans showed enhanced activation of the L-IFG compared to Israelis. This enhanced activation was associated with lower originality scores. The cultural dimension of traditionalism, being higher in the South Korean sample than in the Israeli Sample, was related to enhance L-IFG activity, further supporting our hypothesis regarding cultural influences on inhibitory control. Furthermore, functional connectivity analysis indicated that activation of the L-IFG was positively coupled with PCC activity among Israelis and with preSMA activity among South Koreans. The results suggest that cross-cultural differences in creativity might be explained by variations in inhibitory control.

Keywords: creativity; cross-cultural differences; divergent thinking; fMRI.

Figure 1

AUT dimensions by culture [Color figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Figure 2

The generation task (G): the GO condition started with a fixation point followed by the name of the object and the regular use made of that object. Once the name of the object disappeared, the participants were instructed to think of alternate and possible uses for the object and then choose one of them. Once they chose an alternate use, they were asked to press a response box and verbalize their answer. Once they completed their response they pressed the response box and waited for the next object (4 s were introduced as a jitter that ended the trial). The GC condition was identical to the GO condition; however, in the GC conditions participants were shown an object and a characteristic of this object and were instructed to think of other characteristics of the object

Figure 3

(a) The generation task (GO‐GC) revealed significant differences in four regions [p < .005, corrected for multiple comparisons using permutation tests]: the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), bilateral precentral gyrus, and the precuneus; (b) the correlations between the extracted beta value and originality scores (p < .001). The Korean group is marked with a red circle and the Israeli group with a blue diamond [Color figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Figure 4

(a) The interaction between condition (GO‐GC) and group (Israeli, Korean) revealed significant difference [p < .005, corrected for multiple comparisons using permutation tests] in the activation patterns between the groups, with the Korean group showing higher activations in lateral prefrontal region, that is, the inferior frontal gyrus and the precentral gyrus, as well as in the left caudate tail. (b) The correlation analysis between the beta values (extracted from the three regions that showed an interaction between group and condition) and the originality scores of the AUT/ traditionalism scores. The Korean group is marked with a red circle and the Israeli group with a blue diamond (p < .001) [Color figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Figure 5

The PPI analyses by group (Israeli and Korean) during generation of originality compared to the generation of characteristics (GO‐GC). The Korean model shows significant functional connectivity between the L‐IFG and the left preSMA [p < .005, corrected for multiple comparisons using permutation tests]. The Israeli model shows functional connectivity between the L‐IFG and the lPCC [p < .005, corrected for multiple comparisons using permutation tests]. PreSMA = presupplementary motor area; IFG = inferior frontal gyrus; PCC = posterior cingulate cortex [Color figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]

Figure 6

Group analysis across conditions (GO + GC). The figure shows higher activation of the right inferior parietal lobule (lIPL, BA40) during generation of original uses and generation of characteristics among the Israeli group compared with the Korean group [p < .005, corrected for multiple comparisons using permutation tests]. The figure also shows the correlation analysis between the beta values (extracted from the lIPL) and the originality scores of the AUT. The Korean group is marked with a red circle and the Israeli group with a blue diamond [Color figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]