Embodied cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity following Quadrato Motor Training.

Tal D Ben-Soussan,Aviva Berkovich-Ohana,Filippo Carducci,Joseph Glicksohn,Claudia Piervincenzi

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01021

Abstract

Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) is a whole-body movement contemplative practice aimed at increasing health and well-being. Previous research studying the effect of one QMT session suggested that one of its means for promoting health is by enhancing cognitive flexibility, an important dimension of creativity. Yet, little is known about the effect of a longer QMT practice on creativity, or the relative contribution of the cognitive and motor aspects of the training. Here, we continue this line of research in two inter-related studies, examining the effects of prolonged QMT. In the first, we investigated the effect of 4-weeks of daily QMT on creativity using the Alternate Uses (AUs) Task. In order to determine whether changes in creativity were driven by the cognitive or the motor aspects of the training, we used two control groups: Verbal Training (VT, identical cognitive training with verbal response) and Simple Motor Training (SMT, similar motor training with reduced choice requirements). Twenty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of the groups. Following training, cognitive flexibility significantly increased in the QMT group, which was not the case for either the SMT or VT groups. In contrast to one QMT session, ideational fluency was also significantly increased. In the second study, we conducted a pilot longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (4-weeks QMT). We report gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy changes, in several regions, including the cerebellum, previously related to interoceptive accuracy. The anatomical changes were positively correlated with cognitive flexibility scores. Albeit the small sample size and preliminary nature of the findings, these results provide support for the hypothesized creativity-motor connection. The results are compared to other contemplative studies, and discussed in light of theoretical models integrating cognitive flexibility, embodiment and the motor system.

Highlights

Creativity, Training, and Health The lexeme in the English word creativity comes from the Latin term creo, meaning “to create, make.” creativity means bringing into being, as it involves generation of novelty and transformation of existent information (ChávezEakle et al, 2007)
Albeit the Group × Training interaction was not significant [F(2,15) < 1], we tested directly each group’s effect on fluency, to better evaluate the results compared to our previous studies
The reason for the change in procedure was due to the fact that this study is a part of a larger study conducted with the longer Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) practice paradigm aimed at examining longer sequences for neurodegenerative disease

Summary

Introduction

Creativity, Training, and Health The lexeme in the English word creativity comes from the Latin term creo, meaning “to create, make.” creativity means bringing into being, as it involves generation of novelty and transformation of existent information (ChávezEakle et al, 2007). Creativity requires, as well as generates, new information that transcends informational boundaries, yet is integrated with existing information in a manner exhibiting value (Horan, 2007). We focus on divergent thinking, studying ideational fluency and cognitive flexibility, two important measures of creativity. We aimed at investigating the link between flexibility of behavior and cognitive flexibility. To this end, we employ Quadrato Motor Training (QMT by Patrizio Paoletti – see below), which requires constant flexibility in the movement and behavior, and assess its impact on cognitive flexibility and ideational fluency using the AUs Task (Chermahini and Hommel, 2010)

Methods

Results

Conclusion