The default network is causally linked to creative thinking

AbstractCreative thinking represents a major evolutionary mechanism that greatly contributed to the rapid advancement of the human species. The ability to produce novel and useful ideas, or original thinking, is thought to correlate well with unexpected, synchronous activation of several large-scale, dispersed cortical networks, such as the default network (DN). Despite a vast amount of correlative evidence, a causal link between default network and creativity has yet to be demonstrated. Surgeries for resection of brain tumors that lie in proximity to speech related areas are performed while the patient is awake to map the exposed cortical surface for language functions. Such operations provide a unique opportunity to explore human behavior while disrupting a focal cortical area via focal electrical stimulation. We used a novel paradigm of individualized direct cortical stimulation to examine the association between creative thinking and the DN. Preoperative resting-state fMRI was used to map the DN in individual patients. A cortical area identified as a DN node (study) or outside the DN (controls) was stimulated while the participants performed an alternate-uses-task (AUT). This task measures divergent thinking through the number and originality of different uses provided for an everyday object. Baseline AUT performance in the operating room was positively correlated with DN integrity. Direct cortical stimulation at the DN node resulted in decreased ability to produce alternate uses, but not in the originality of uses produced. Stimulation in areas that when used as network seed regions produced a network similar to the canonical DN was associated with reduction of creative fluency. Stimulation of areas that did not produce a default-like network (controls) did not alter creative thinking. This is the first study to causally link the DN and creative thinking.

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On the role of creativity in the formation of new complex words

Linguistics ◽

10.1515/ling-2020-0003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Lívia Körtvélyessy ◽

Pavol Štekauer ◽

Pavol Kačmár

Keyword(s):

Creative Thinking ◽

Large Scale ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Word Formation ◽

Future Research ◽

General Tendency ◽

Language User ◽

Complex Words ◽

University Undergraduates

Abstract This article presents the results of a large-scale interdisciplinary project aimed at a corroboration of the role of creativity in the way university undergraduates (N = 309) coin new complex words. Specifically, the tendency towards economy of expression, preferred by a speaker, and the tendency towards semantic transparency, preferred by a listener, were examined in the broader context of the creative potential of an individual, understood as divergent thinking abilities captured by the Torrance test of creative thinking (TTCT). The results indicate that divergent thinking abilities, as operationalized by the TTCT scores, negatively correlate with the general tendency to coin new complex words in a more economical fashion. More specifically, the general tendency towards economy of expression correlates negatively with Elaboration, Creative Strengths, and potentially with Creativity. A more detailed analysis indicates that this is especially the case for the word-formation task, where open-ended responses were analyzed and a drawing served as stimulus material for word formation. These results are not only novel but also encouraging for future research into the role of psychological factors in the psycholinguistic process of word formation conceived as a creative act of a language user.

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Regular Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity and Walking Are Associated with Divergent but Not Convergent Thinking in Japanese Young Adults

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11081046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 1046

Author(s):

Chong Chen ◽

Yasuhiro Mochizuki ◽

Kosuke Hagiwara ◽

Masako Hirotsu ◽

Shin Nakagawa

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Young Adults ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Creative Thinking ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Convergent Thinking ◽

Intervention Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Vigorous Intensity

The beneficial effects of regular physical activity (PA) on cognitive functions have received much attention. Recent research suggests that regular PA may also enhance creative thinking, an indispensable cognitive factor for invention and innovation. However, at what intensity regular PA brings the most benefits to creative thinking remains uninvestigated. Furthermore, whether the levels of regular PA affect the acute PA effects on creative thinking is also unclear. In the present study, using a previous dataset that investigated the effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on creative thinking in healthy Japanese young adults (22.98 ± 1.95 years old) in the year 2020, we tested the association between different intensities of regular PA (i.e., vigorous, moderate, and walking) and creative thinking with the cross-sectional baseline data using multiple linear regression. We also investigated whether regular PA levels were associated with the acute aerobic exercise intervention effects on creative thinking. The results showed that cross-sectionally, the regular PAs were differentially associated with divergent but not convergent thinking. Specifically, whereas the amount of vigorous-intensity PA was positively associated with fluency and flexibility, the amount of walking was positively associated with novelty on the alternate uses test (AUT) measuring divergent thinking. Importantly, the explained variances of fluency, flexibility, and novelty were 20.3% (p = 0.040), 18.8% (p = 0.055), and 20.1% (p = 0.043), respectively. None of the regular PAs predicted convergent thinking (i.e., an insight problem-solving task), nor were they associated with the acute aerobic exercise intervention effects on divergent and convergent thinking. These findings suggest that engaging in regular vigorous-intensity PA and walking may be useful strategies to enhance different aspects of divergent thinking in daily life.

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Determination of the threshold for convulsions by direct cortical stimulation

Epilepsy Research ◽

10.1016/0920-1211(89)90039-9 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 120-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

R.A Voskuyl ◽

J Dingemanse ◽

M Danhof

Keyword(s):

Cortical Stimulation ◽

Direct Cortical Stimulation

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Impairment of preoperative language mapping by lesion location: a functional magnetic resonance imaging, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation, and direct cortical stimulation study

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2014.10.jns141582 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 123 (2) ◽

pp. 314-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Sebastian Ille ◽

Nico Sollmann ◽

Theresa Hauck ◽

Stefanie Maurer ◽

Noriko Tanigawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Cortical Stimulation ◽

Awake Surgery ◽

Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Language Mapping ◽

Direct Cortical Stimulation ◽

Neurosurgical Patients

OBJECT Language mapping by repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly used and has already replaced functional MRI (fMRI) in some institutions for preoperative mapping of neurosurgical patients. Yet some factors affect the concordance of both methods with direct cortical stimulation (DCS), most likely by lesions affecting cortical oxygenation levels. Therefore, the impairment of the accuracy of rTMS and fMRI was analyzed and compared with DCS during awake surgery in patients with intraparenchymal lesions. METHODS Language mapping was performed by DCS, rTMS, and fMRI using an object-naming task in 27 patients with left-sided perisylvian lesions, and the induced language errors of each method were assigned to the cortical parcellation system. Subsequently, the receiver operating characteristics were calculated for rTMS and fMRI and compared with DCS as ground truth for regions with (w/) and without (w/o) the lesion in the mapped regions. RESULTS The w/ subgroup revealed a sensitivity of 100% (w/o 100%), a specificity of 8% (w/o 5%), a positive predictive value of 34% (w/o: 53%), and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% (w/o: 100%) for the comparison of rTMS versus DCS. Findings for the comparison of fMRI versus DCS within the w/ subgroup revealed a sensitivity of 32% (w/o: 62%), a specificity of 88% (w/o: 60%), a positive predictive value of 56% (w/o: 62%), and a NPV of 73% (w/o: 60%). CONCLUSIONS Although strengths and weaknesses exist for both rTMS and fMRI, the results show that rTMS is less affected by a brain lesion than fMRI, especially when performing mapping of language-negative cortical regions based on sensitivity and NPV.

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Adopting SCAMPER`S Strategies to Incorporate the Sustainability Concepts Within Architectural Design Process

10.24086/aces2020/paper.160 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Farhan Ali ◽

Keyword(s):

Design Process ◽

Creative Thinking ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Functional Performance ◽

Necessary Condition ◽

Existing Building ◽

Starting Point ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Aesthetic

Thinking creatively, is a necessary condition of the Design process to transform ideas into novel solutions and break barriers to creativity. Although, there are many techniques and ways to stimulate creative thinking for designers, however, this research paper adopts SCAMPER; which is acronym of: Substitute- Combine-Adapt- Modify or Magnify-Put to another use-Eliminate-Reverse or Rearrange- to integrate the sustainability concepts within architectural design process. Many creative artifacts have been designed consciously or unconsciously adopting SCAMPER strategies such as rehabilitation and reuse projects to improve the functional performance or the aesthetic sense of an existing building for the better. SCAMPER is recognized as a divergent thinking tool are used during the initial ideation stage, aims to leave the usual way of thinking to generate a wide range of new ideas that will lead to new insights, original ideas, and creative solutions to problems. The research focuses on applying this method in the architectural design, which is rarely researched, through reviewing seven examples that have been designed consciously or unconsciously adopting SCAMPER mnemonic techniques. The paper aims to establish a starting point for further research to deepen it and study its potentials in solving architectural design problems.

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Comparison between fMRI and direct cortical stimulation for clinical retinotopic mapping

Neuroscience Research ◽

10.1016/j.neures.2011.07.1290 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. e296

Author(s):

Akihiro Shimotake ◽

Riki Matsumoto ◽

Masanori Kanazu ◽

Hiroki Yamamoto ◽

Masao Matsuhashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Stimulation ◽

Direct Cortical Stimulation ◽

Retinotopic Mapping

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Parallel Distributed Networks Resolved at High Resolution Reveal Close Juxtaposition of Distinct Regions

10.1101/475806 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Rodrigo M. Braga ◽

Koene R. A. Van Dijk ◽

Jonathan R. Polimeni ◽

Mark C. Eldaief ◽

Randy L. Buckner

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Large Scale ◽

Spatial Separation ◽

Distributed Networks ◽

Association Cortex ◽

Default Network ◽

Network Organization ◽

Parahippocampal Cortex ◽

The Individual ◽

Insight Into

Examination of large-scale distributed networks within the individual reveals details of cortical network organization that are absent in group-averaged studies. One recent discovery is that a distributed transmodal network, often referred to as the ‘default network’, is comprised of two separate but closely interdigitated networks, only one of which is coupled to posterior parahippocampal cortex. Not all studies of individuals have identified the same networks and questions remain about the degree to which the two networks are separate, particularly within regions hypothesized to be interconnected hubs. Here we replicate the observation of network separation across analytical (seed-based connectivity and parcellation) and data projection (volume and surface) methods in 2 individuals each scanned 31 times. Additionally, 3 individuals were examined with high-resolution fMRI to gain further insight into the anatomical details. The two networks were identified with separate regions localized to adjacent portions of the cortical ribbon, sometimes inside the same sulcus. Midline regions previously implicated as hubs revealed near complete spatial separation of the two networks, displaying a complex spatial topography in the posterior cingulate and precuneus. The network coupled to parahippocampal cortex also revealed a separate region directly within the hippocampus at or near the subiculum. These collective results support that the default network is composed of at least two spatially juxtaposed networks. Fine spatial details and juxta-positions of the two networks can be identified within individuals at high resolution, providing insight into the network organization of association cortex and placing further constraints on interpretation of group-averaged neuroimaging data.

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Surgical management of Rolandic area meningioma in the era of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring

Romanian Neurosurgery ◽

10.33962/roneuro-2020-082 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 488-494

Author(s):

Mihaela Coșman ◽

Ionuț Mihail Panțiru ◽

Andrei Ionuț Cucu ◽

Andreea Lenuța Atomei ◽

Gabriela Florența Dumitrecu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Stimulation ◽

Motor Area ◽

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring ◽

Motor Deficit ◽

Cortical Mapping ◽

Neurophysiological Monitoring ◽

Direct Cortical Stimulation ◽

One Year ◽

The Impact

Introduction: The advantages and the necessity of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) in the surgery of motor area infiltrative tumours is well known. The use of this technique for Rolandic meningioma is still debatable. The absence or the loss of the cleavage plan and an infiltrative border make the dissection exceedingly difficult and increase the risk of new postoperative motor disfunction. Materials and methods: We evaluated the impact of IOM, especially direct cortical stimulation on the degree of resection, new postoperative deficits, symptom remission and clinical-imagistic aspects at one-year follow up of 19 cases of Rolandic meningioma admitted in Third Department of Neurosurgery,” Prof. Dr N. Oblu” Emergency Clinical Hospital, Yassi, Romania, between January 2014 and July 2018. Results: More than half of the cases (57,88%) had epileptic manifestations as the main clinical symptom with the Jacksonian seizures being on the first place (31,57%), followed by progressive paresis (26,31%) and other nonspecific symptoms. Intraparenchymal preoperative oedema was observed in 36,84% of patients. The intensity of direct cortical stimulation was between 6-13 mA (median = 9mA; mode = 12mA). Simpson degree of resection was dominated by S3– 47,36% and S4 was obtained in 15,78% of cases. Postoperative the outcome was favourable for 73,68% patients with 5,26% motor aggravation and 10,52% new deficits. At one-year follow up no imagistic recurrence was observed and the permanent motor deficit was maintained in one of the three cases (5,26%). Conclusion: Even though meningiomas are extranevraxial lesions and those located on the convexity have a low risk of complication, the absence of a clear dissection plan between the tumour and the adjacent motor cortex is associated with a high risk for new postoperative neurological deficits. Therefore, it is important to perform cortical mapping for Rolandic meningioma, to determine the location of the primary motor area and to protect it from mechanical and vascular trauma, during tumour resection.

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Exploring Neural Signal Complexity as a Potential Link between Creative Thinking, Intelligence, and Cognitive Control

Journal of Intelligence ◽

10.3390/jintelligence9040059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Yadwinder Kaur ◽

Selina Weiss ◽

Changsong Zhou ◽

Rico Fischer ◽

Andrea Hildebrandt

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Control ◽

Creative Thinking ◽

Divergent Thinking ◽

Crystallized Intelligence ◽

Multi Scale ◽

Common Basis ◽

Multiple Neural Networks ◽

Potential Link ◽

Signal Complexity ◽

The Relationship

Functional connectivity studies have demonstrated that creative thinking builds upon an interplay of multiple neural networks involving the cognitive control system. Theoretically, cognitive control has generally been discussed as the common basis underlying the positive relationship between creative thinking and intelligence. However, the literature still lacks a detailed investigation of the association patterns between cognitive control, the factors of creative thinking as measured by divergent thinking (DT) tasks, i.e., fluency and originality, and intelligence, both fluid and crystallized. In the present study, we explored these relationships at the behavioral and the neural level, based on N = 77 young adults. We focused on brain-signal complexity (BSC), parameterized by multi-scale entropy (MSE), as measured during a verbal DT and a cognitive control task. We demonstrated that MSE is a sensitive neural indicator of originality as well as inhibition. Then, we explore the relationships between MSE and factor scores indicating DT and intelligence. In a series of across-scalp analyses, we show that the overall MSE measured during a DT task, as well as MSE measured in cognitive control states, are associated with fluency and originality at specific scalp locations, but not with fluid and crystallized intelligence. The present explorative study broadens our understanding of the relationship between creative thinking, intelligence, and cognitive control from the perspective of BSC and has the potential to inspire future BSC-related theories of creative thinking.

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Continuous Dynamic Mapping of the Corticospinal Tract in Motor Eloquent Tumor Surgery: Our Experience and Evaluation of the Method

Acta Medica Academica ◽

10.5644/ama2006-124.308 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (1, 2, 3) ◽

pp. 63

Author(s):

Andrej Porčnik ◽

Jure Pešak ◽

Tilen Žele ◽

Blaž Koritnik ◽

Zoran Rodi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Corticospinal Tract ◽

Cortical Stimulation ◽

Gross Total Resection ◽

Motor Deficit ◽

Total Resection ◽

Direct Cortical Stimulation ◽

Dynamic Mapping ◽

Combined Use ◽

Eloquent Tumor ◽

Continuous Dynamic

Objective. The aim of this article is to present our experience with continuous dynamic mapping (CDM) of the corticospinal tract (CST) when removing tumors in motor eloquent regions.Methods. We studied 44 patients with a brain tumor adjacent to the CST where CDM was used. The mapping probe was integrated at the tip of the suction device. Thresholds for eliciting MEPs were recorded. In all patients, along with CDM, MEPs to direct cortical stimulation were also monitored throughout the operation. Motor function was assessed preoperatively, after the procedure and on discharge.Results. In the series, there were 37 patients with gliomas, six with brain metastasis, and one with cavernoma. The threshold to elicit MEPs in CDM was >20 mA in 17 cases, 16–20 mA in six cases, 11–15 mA in six cases, 6–10 mA in nine cases and 2–5 mA in six cases. MEPs to direct cortical stimulation were preserved in all patients. In three cases a new temporary motor deficit was noted. No new permanent motor deficit occurred. Gross total resection was reached in 57% of cases.Conclusions. From our experience, the combined use of CDM and MEPs to direct cortical stimulation improves the safety of surgery in the proximity of the CST, and at the same time offers the possibility of higher rates of gross total resection.

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