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On the neurobiology of creativity. Differences in frontal activity between high and low creative subjects

Carlsson, Ingegerd LU ; Wendt, Peter E and Risberg, Jarl LU (2000) In Neuropsychologia 38(6). p.873-885
Abstract
The aim was to investigate the relationship between creativity and hemispheric asymmetry, as measured by regional cerebral blood ¯ow (rCBF). Two groups, each consisting of 12 healthy male subjects, who got either very high or low scores on a creativity test, were pre-selected for the rCBF investigation. rCBF was measured during rest and three verbal tasks: automatic speech (Auto), word ¯uency (FAS) and uses of objects (Brick). State and trait anxiety inventories were answered after the rCBF measurements. Intelligence tests were also administered. It was predicted that highly creative subjects would show a bilateral frontal activation on the divergent thinking task (Brick), while low creative subjects were expected to have a unilateral... (More)
The aim was to investigate the relationship between creativity and hemispheric asymmetry, as measured by regional cerebral blood ¯ow (rCBF). Two groups, each consisting of 12 healthy male subjects, who got either very high or low scores on a creativity test, were pre-selected for the rCBF investigation. rCBF was measured during rest and three verbal tasks: automatic speech (Auto), word ¯uency (FAS) and uses of objects (Brick). State and trait anxiety inventories were answered after the rCBF measurements. Intelligence tests were also administered. It was predicted that highly creative subjects would show a bilateral frontal activation on the divergent thinking task (Brick), while low creative subjects were expected to have a unilateral increase.

Calculations were made of di.erences in blood ¯ow levels between the FAS and the Brick measurements in the anterior prefrontal, frontotemporal and superior frontal regions. In accordance with our prediction, repeated measure-ANOVAs showed that the creativity groups di.ered signi®cantly in all three regions. The highly creative group had increases, or unchanged activity, while the low creative group had mainly decreases. The highly creative group had higher trait anxiety than the low creative group. On the intelligence tests the low creative group was superior both on logical-inductive ability and on perceptual speed, while the groups were equal on verbal and spatial tests. The results are discussed in terms of complementary functions of the hemispheres. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Trait anxiety, Divergent thinking, Logical thinking, Flexibility, Frontal function, Cerebral laterality
in
Neuropsychologia
volume
38
issue
6
pages
873 - 885
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:0033983779
ISSN
1873-3514
DOI
10.1016/S0028-3932(99)00128-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
www.elsevier.com/locate/neuropsychologia
id
c4553e20-9a96-4269-af2b-06342e672c1b (old id 1032600)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:52:40
date last changed
2022-03-31 00:16:25
@article{c4553e20-9a96-4269-af2b-06342e672c1b,
  abstract     = {{The aim was to investigate the relationship between creativity and hemispheric asymmetry, as measured by regional cerebral blood ¯ow (rCBF). Two groups, each consisting of 12 healthy male subjects, who got either very high or low scores on a creativity test, were pre-selected for the rCBF investigation. rCBF was measured during rest and three verbal tasks: automatic speech (Auto), word ¯uency (FAS) and uses of objects (Brick). State and trait anxiety inventories were answered after the rCBF measurements. Intelligence tests were also administered. It was predicted that highly creative subjects would show a bilateral frontal activation on the divergent thinking task (Brick), while low creative subjects were expected to have a unilateral increase.<br/><br>
Calculations were made of di.erences in blood ¯ow levels between the FAS and the Brick measurements in the anterior prefrontal, frontotemporal and superior frontal regions. In accordance with our prediction, repeated measure-ANOVAs showed that the creativity groups di.ered signi®cantly in all three regions. The highly creative group had increases, or unchanged activity, while the low creative group had mainly decreases. The highly creative group had higher trait anxiety than the low creative group. On the intelligence tests the low creative group was superior both on logical-inductive ability and on perceptual speed, while the groups were equal on verbal and spatial tests. The results are discussed in terms of complementary functions of the hemispheres.}},
  author       = {{Carlsson, Ingegerd and Wendt, Peter E and Risberg, Jarl}},
  issn         = {{1873-3514}},
  keywords     = {{Trait anxiety; Divergent thinking; Logical thinking; Flexibility; Frontal function; Cerebral laterality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{873--885}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Neuropsychologia}},
  title        = {{On the neurobiology of creativity. Differences in frontal activity between high and low creative subjects}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5200346/1268121.doc}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0028-3932(99)00128-1}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}