Intact microstructure of the right corticostriatal pathway predicts creative ability in healthy adults.

Farzaneh Rahmani,Mohammad Hadi Aarabi,Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam

doi:10.1002/brb3.1895

Farzaneh Rahmani, Mohammad Hadi Aarabi + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1895

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Abstract

IntroductionCreativity is one of the most complex functions of the human brain. The corticostriatal pathways have been implicated in creative thinking, yet few studies have addressed the microstructural underpinnings of creative ability, especially those related to the corticostriatal dopaminergic circuitry. We hypothesized that performance in creativity tests can be predicted based on diffusion metrics of the corticostriatal pathways and basal ganglia.MethodsA total of 37 healthy adults were included. Neuropsychological tests of creativity, including the alternative uses task (AUT), test of creative imagery abilities (TCIA), remote associates test (RAT), and creative achievement questionnaire (CAQ), as well as diffusion MRI data were acquired for each participant.ResultsWe demonstrated an independent effect of TCIA originality and TCIA transformativeness subscores, and RAT score in predicting the mean diffusivity (MD), mean axial diffusivity (AD), mean fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean generalized FA of the right corticostriatal pathway. We also observed independent effects of AUT elaboration subscore in predicting the AD of the right substantia nigra, and radial diffusivity (RD) of the right globus pallidus.ConclusionOur results put a further spin on the “creative right brain” notion and question the presence of high‐creative and low‐creative networks in the brain.

Highlights

Creativity is one of the most complex functions of the human brain
Our results indicated an indirect association between axial diffusivity (AD) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the right substantia nigra and alternative uses task (AUT) elaboration subscore (Pearson's R value = −.501, p-value < .01, and Pearson's R value = −.455, p-value < .01)
We identified: (a) an independent effect of test of creative imagery abilities (TCIA) originality subscore, TCIA transformativeness subscore, and remote associates test (RAT) score in predicting the mean MD, mean AD, mean generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA), and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) of the right corticostriatal pathway, (b) independent effects of AUT elaboration subscore and sex in predicting the AD of the right substantia nigra, and (c) independent effects of AUT elaboration subscore and age in predicting the radial diffusivity (RD) of the right globus pallidus

Summary

Introduction

Creativity is one of the most complex functions of the human brain. The corticostriatal pathways have been implicated in creative thinking, yet few studies have addressed the microstructural underpinnings of creative ability, especially those related to the corticostriatal dopaminergic circuitry. Neuropsychological tests of creativity, including the alternative uses task (AUT), test of creative imagery abilities (TCIA), remote associates test (RAT), and creative achievement questionnaire (CAQ), as well as diffusion MRI data were acquired for each participant. The role of frontostriatal circuitry in cognitive ability is further exemplified by the fact that the striatal network is involved in adaptive flexibility required during complex learning tasks (Kehagia et al, 2010), while the prefrontal cortical network alone is engaged in problem-solving which requires persistence and thoroughness in creative thinking (Boot et al, 2017). It was shown that diffusion metrics and connectivity of basal ganglia can predict creative ability in terms of divergent thinking, using the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults (Sunavsky & Poppenk, 2020). No study has investigated the association of diffusion metrics and connectivity of basal ganglia subregions with creativity metrics

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