Robust prediction of individual creative ability from brain functional connectivity

Bibliographic Data

ID23345529
AuthorsRoger E Beaty (0000-0001-6114-5973, Harvard University, corresponding author), Yoed N Kenett (0000-0003-3872-7689, University of Pennsylvania), Alexander P Christensen (0000-0002-9798-7037, University of North Carolina at Greensboro), Monica D Rosenberg (0000-0001-6179-4025, Yale University), Mathias Benedek (0000-0001-6258-4476, University of Graz), Qunlin Chen (0000-0002-7396-1297, Southwest University), Andreas Fink (0009-0008-6483-4190, University of Graz), Jiang Qiu (0000-0003-0269-5910, Southwest University), Thomas R Kwapil (0000-0003-1116-5954, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820), Michael J Kane (0000-0002-6965-5430, University of North Carolina at Greensboro), Paul J Silvia (0000-0003-4597-328X, University of North Carolina at Greensboro)
Year2018
Volume115
Issue5
Pages1087-1092
Publication date2018-01-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0027-8424 • E-ISSN: 1091-6490
PublisherNational Academy of Sciences (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1073/pnas.1713532115
PMID29339474
OpenAlexW2782673913
LanguageEN
Citations received76
References cited39

Significance People’s capacity to generate creative ideas is central to technological and cultural progress. Despite advances in the neuroscience of creativity, the field lacks clarity on whether a specific neural architecture distinguishes the highly creative brain. Using methods in network neuroscience, we modeled individual creative thinking ability as a function of variation in whole-brain functional connectivity. We identified a brain network associated with creative ability comprised of regions within default, salience, and executive systems—neural circuits that often work in opposition. Across four independent datasets, we show that a person’s capacity to generate original ideas can be reliably predicted from the strength of functional connectivity within this network, indicating that creative thinking ability is characterized by a distinct brain connectivity profile.

Functional connectivity · Aesthetic Perception and Analysis · Artificial Intelligence · Cognitive Science and Mapping · Computer Science · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience · Neuroscience · Psychology