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On the personality, neurobiology, and cognition of creativity

Carlsson, Ingegerd LU (2005) In Psychology : Journal of the Higher School of Economics / Psikhologiya. Zhurnal Vysshei Shkoly Ekonomiki 2(4). p.122-131
Abstract
Two extreme groups of healthy male undergraduate students, either highly (n=12) or low creative (n=12), were pre-selected from a larger cohort (N= 60) by way of the Creative functioning test (Smith and Carlsson, 1990). The two groups underwent measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF). CBF was measured first during rest and during three verbal tasks (random order): Automatic speech (Auto), word fluency (FAS) and the unusual uses of objects test (Brick). The participant answered state and trait anxiety inventories after the CBF measurements. On another day, intelligence tests and a test of defense mechanisms were administered.

Calculations were made of differences in blood flow levels between the FAS and the Brick measurements in... (More)
Two extreme groups of healthy male undergraduate students, either highly (n=12) or low creative (n=12), were pre-selected from a larger cohort (N= 60) by way of the Creative functioning test (Smith and Carlsson, 1990). The two groups underwent measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF). CBF was measured first during rest and during three verbal tasks (random order): Automatic speech (Auto), word fluency (FAS) and the unusual uses of objects test (Brick). The participant answered state and trait anxiety inventories after the CBF measurements. On another day, intelligence tests and a test of defense mechanisms were administered.

Calculations were made of differences in blood flow levels between the FAS and the Brick measurements in the anterior prefrontal, fronto-temporal and superior frontal regions. In accordance with pre- diction, repeated measures-ANOVAs showed that the groups differed significantly 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 also had higher hemispheric CBF means during rest compared to the low creative group.

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. Logical ability was negatively correlated with anxiety.

Furthermore, the highly creative group had higher defensive variation than the low group. High defensive variability was positively correlated to the creativity test.

The results are discussed in terms of flexible interaction between complementary functions in the two hemispheres. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Psychology : Journal of the Higher School of Economics / Psikhologiya. Zhurnal Vysshei Shkoly Ekonomiki
volume
2
issue
4
pages
122 - 131
publisher
National Research University Higher School of Economics
ISSN
1813-8918
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dc0b513a-752b-4bd6-a944-09c67b890cdb (old id 975508)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 14:05:06
date last changed
2020-05-14 09:34:39
@article{dc0b513a-752b-4bd6-a944-09c67b890cdb,
  abstract     = {{Two extreme groups of healthy male undergraduate students, either highly (n=12) or low creative (n=12), were pre-selected from a larger cohort (N= 60) by way of the Creative functioning test (Smith and Carlsson, 1990). The two groups underwent measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF). CBF was measured first during rest and during three verbal tasks (random order): Automatic speech (Auto), word fluency (FAS) and the unusual uses of objects test (Brick). The participant answered state and trait anxiety inventories after the CBF measurements. On another day, intelligence tests and a test of defense mechanisms were administered.<br/><br>
Calculations were made of differences in blood flow levels between the FAS and the Brick measurements in the anterior prefrontal, fronto-temporal and superior frontal regions. In accordance with pre- diction, repeated measures-ANOVAs showed that the groups differed significantly 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 also had higher hemispheric CBF means during rest compared to the low creative group.<br/><br>
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. Logical ability was negatively correlated with anxiety.<br/><br>
Furthermore, the highly creative group had higher defensive variation than the low group. High defensive variability was positively correlated to the creativity test.<br/><br>
The results are discussed in terms of flexible interaction between complementary functions in the two hemispheres.}},
  author       = {{Carlsson, Ingegerd}},
  issn         = {{1813-8918}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{122--131}},
  publisher    = {{National Research University Higher School of Economics}},
  series       = {{Psychology : Journal of the Higher School of Economics / Psikhologiya. Zhurnal Vysshei Shkoly Ekonomiki}},
  title        = {{On the personality, neurobiology, and cognition of creativity}},
  volume       = {{2}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}