New findings may eventually lead to solutions that ignite creative thinking or assist individuals with mental disorders affecting these brain regions.
Have you ever experienced a breakthrough solution to a challenging problem while your mind was occupied with something completely unrelated? Creative thinking is a defining trait of human nature, often emerging unexpectedly without conscious effort.
Exploring the neurological origins of creativity – what happens in our brains when we think innovatively – is a complex puzzle.
However, a research team led by a University of Utah Health scientist working at Baylor College of Medicine has employed precise brain imaging techniques to reveal how different brain regions collaborate to generate creative thoughts.
Their findings were published in BRAIN on June 18.
The new discoveries could potentially lead to interventions that stimulate creative thinking or aid individuals with mental illnesses affecting these brain areas.
Thinking Beyond Boundaries
Cognitive processes like creativity are notoriously challenging to study. Dr. Ben Shofty, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and senior author of the study, explains, “Unlike motor skills or vision, creativity doesn’t rely on a specific brain region. There’s no designated ‘creativity center’ in the brain.”
Nonetheless, evidence indicates that creativity is a distinguishable brain function. Localized brain damage from conditions like stroke can result in alterations in creative abilities – both positive and negative. This insight suggests that it is feasible to pinpoint the neurological foundation of creativity.
Dr. Shofty speculated that creative thinking might heavily involve regions of the brain also activated during meditation, daydreaming, and other internally focused cognitive activities. This network of brain cells is known as the default mode network (DMN), as it governs the spontaneous thought patterns that occur when the mind is idle. “Unlike most brain functions, the DMN isn’t task-oriented,” Dr. Shofty notes. “It continuously operates, maintaining our stream of consciousness.”
The DMN spans various brain regions, making it challenging to monitor its real-time activity. Employing an advanced brain imaging procedure akin to pinpointing seizure locations in epilepsy patients, researchers implanted tiny electrodes in the brain to precisely monitor the electrical activity of multiple brain areas.
Participants in the study were undergoing seizure monitoring, allowing the research team to gauge brain activity during creative thinking. This approach provided a detailed insight into the neural underpinnings of creativity never observed before. “We could observe brain activity within milliseconds of engaging in creative thinking,” Dr. Shofty explains.
Path to Originality
During a creative task where participants had to suggest novel uses for everyday objects like chairs or cups, the DMN exhibited heightened activity initially. Subsequently, its activity synchronized with other brain regions involved in complex problem-solving and decision-making. Dr. Shofty suggests that creative concepts originate in the DMN before being evaluated by other brain areas.
Furthermore, researchers demonstrated that specific parts of the network are essential for creative thinking. By temporarily reducing activity in particular DMN regions using electrodes, individuals generated less creative ideas when asked to brainstorm novel object uses. However, their other cognitive functions, like daydreaming, remained unaffected.
Dr. Eleonora Bartoli, assistant professor of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine and co-first author of the study, explains that this outcome indicates creativity isn’t merely linked to the network but fundamentally relies on it. “Through direct brain stimulation, we transcended correlational evidence,” she elucidates. “Our results underscore the DMN’s causal role in creative thinking.”
Alterations in the network’s activity are observed in various disorders, such as ruminative depression, where the DMN is more active than usual, potentially contributing to heightened negative internal thoughts. Dr. Shofty emphasizes that comprehending the network’s normal functioning may lead to improved treatments for individuals with such conditions.
By identifying brain regions involved in creative thinking, Dr. Shofty aspires to develop interventions that can encourage creativity. “The ultimate aim is to understand the network’s dynamics to potentially enhance creativity,” he concludes.
