| Creativity is imperative to the progression of human civilization and is essential to cultural life. It is characterized by the formation of something that is both novel and useful (Jung et al.,2013; Sternberg&Lubart,1993). All progress and innovation depend on our ability to change existing thinking patterns, break with the present, and build something new. Given the central importance of this most extraordinary capacity of the human mind, the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms of creative thinking are the subject of intense research efforts in the behavioral and brain sciences. To study creative ideas, and how and where they arise in the brain, is to approach a defining element of what makes us human.Recent investigations into creativity have utilized brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and structural MRI (sMRI) to study the neural correlates of creative cognition (for reviews see Arden et al.,2010; Dietrich&Kanso,2010; Jung et al.,2013). The present study employ resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) and sMRI to identify the functional and anatomical correlates of individual trait creativity, as measured by the Verbal Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT-V), Figure Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT-F), Williams Creativity Aptitude Test (WCAT), Remote Association Test (RAT), Scientific invention problem solving and high academic achievement university professors. Study one using rs-fMRI and sMRI to identify the functional and anatomical correlates of individual verbal creativity, visuo-spatial creativity, trait creativity and remote association thinking, as measured by the Verbal Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT-V), Figure Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT-F), Williams Creativity Aptitude Test (WCAT), Remote Association Test (RAT). Study two using rs-fMRI and sMRI to identify the functional and anatomical correlates of scientific invention problem solving. Study three using rs-fMRI and sMRI to identify the biological substrate of high academic achievement university professors (HAP) compared to low academic achievement university professors (LAP). Study one using multimode brain imaging technology and multi-dimension creative measurements to identify the functional and anatomical correlates of individual creativity. Experiment1using TTCT-V to measure individual verbal creativity and found the regional homogeneity (ReHo) in right anterior cingulate cortex, right middle occipital gyrus/posterior temporal gyrus and right precentral/postcentral gyrus were significantly positively related with individual verbal creativity, while the ReHo value in the right hippocampal gyrus/parahippocampal gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, left superior parietal lobule and right precuneus were significantly negatively related with individual verbal creativity. Additionally, we found the regional gray matter density (rGMD) in the left inferior frontal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus were significantly positively correlated with individual verbal creativity, while the rGMD in the caudate nucleus was significantly negatively correlated with individual verbal creativity. Experiment2using TTCT-F to measure individual visuo-spatial creativity and found the ReHo in right inferior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus were significantly positively related with individual visuo-spatial creativity, while the ReHo value in the right middle occipital gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus and right precuneus were significantly negatively related with individual visuo-spatial creativity. Additionally, we found the rGMD in the left precuneus gyrus was significantly negatively correlated with individual visuo-spatial creativity, while the regional white matter density (rWMD) in the right superior temporal gyrus, right angular gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus were significantly positively correlated with individual visuo-spatial creativity and the rWMD in the left lentiform nucleus, left putamen, left parahippocampal gyrus, right lentiform nucleus and right putamen were significantly negatively correlated with individual visuo-spatial creativity. Experiment3using WCAT to measure individual trait creativity and found the ReHo in the left middle frontal gyrus and left postcentral gyrus were significantly positively related with individual visuo-spatial creativity, while no areas ReHo valuewas significantly negatively related with individual trait creativity. Additionally, we found the rGMD in the right lingual gyrus was significantly positively correlated with individual trait creativity, while the rGMD in the left ACC was significantly negatively correlated with individual trait creativity. At the same time, we found the rWMD in the left ACC was significantly positively correlated with individual trait creativity, while the rWMD in the right lingual gyrus and left cerebellum was significantly negatively correlated with individual trait creativity. Experiment4using remote association test to measure individual remote association thingking ability and found the ReHo in the right fusiform gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, right precunus and right angual gyrus were significantly negatively related with individual remote association thingking ability, while no areas ReHo valuewas significantly positively related with individual remote association thingking ability. Additionally, we found the rGMD in the right middle temporal gyrus and right superior temporal sulcus were significantly positively correlated with individual remote association thingking ability, while the rGMD in the right middle cingulate cortex was significantly negatively correlated with individual remote association thingking ability. At the same time, we found the rWMD in the right MCC was significantly positively correlated with individual remote association thingking ability, while the rWMD in the left inferior frontal gyrus were significantly negatively correlated with individual remote association thingking ability.Study two using multimode brain imaging technology and scientific invention problem solving to identify the functional and anatomical correlates of the mystery of the human scientific invention. Experiment5using rs-fMRI to investigate the functional correlates of scientific invention problem solving. Using the region of interest (ROI) analysis method and found the ReHo in the right precentral and postcentral gyrus were significantly negatively related with the creative problem solving accuracy, while the ReHo in the right middle frontal gyrus was significantly positively related with accuracy of creative and conventional problem solving. Using the whole brain analysis method and found the ReHo in the left ACC and right middle frontal gyrus were significantly positively related with the creative problem solving accuracy, while the ReHo in the right postcentral gyrus was significantly negatively related with accuracy of creative problem solving. Experiment6using sMRI to investigate the analogical correlates of scientific invention problem solving. Using the region of interest (ROI) analysis method and found the rGMD in the left precuneus and the rWMD in the right superior temporal gyrus were significantly negatively related with the creative problem solving accuracy, while the rWMD in the MCC was significantly positively related with accuracy of creative and conventional problem solving. Using the whole brain analysis method and found the rGMD in the left middle temporal gyrus and left precentral gyrus were significantly positively related with the creative problem solving accuracy.Study three used a combined structural and rs-fMRI to examine the biological substrate of high academic achievement university professors (HAP) compared to low academic achievement university professors (LAP). Experiment7using rs-fMRI to investigate the functional difference between high academic achievement university professors (HAP) compared to low academic achievement university professors (LAP). Using the region of interest (ROI) analysis method and found HAP had greater ReHo in the hippocampal gyrus/parahippocampal gyrus and right precentral gyrus than that in LAP. Using the whole brain analysis method and found HAP had greater ReHo in the right hippocampal gyrus/parahippocampal gyrus and smaller ReHo in the right cuneus/precuneus, left precentral/postcentral gyrus and the right precentral/postcentral gyrus than that in LAP. Experiment8using sMRI to investigate the structural difference between high academic achievement university professors (HAP) compared to low academic achievement university professors (LAP). Using the region of interest (ROI) analysis method and found HAP had smaller rWMD in the right MCC than that in LAP.In conclusion, the current study using the multimode brain imaging technology and multi-dimension creative measurements to identify the functional and anatomical correlates of individual creativity. These results provided the theoretical foundation for the cultivating creative talents and creative thinking. |
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