Stimulating Creativity: Modulation of Convergent and Divergent Thinking by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Abstract

Creativity has been conceptualized as involving 2 distinct components; divergent thinking, the search for multiple solutions to a single problem, and convergent thinking, the quest for a single solution either through an analytical process or the experience of insight. Studies have demonstrated that these abilities can be improved by cognitive stimulation, mood, and meditation. This investigation examined whether convergent and divergent thinking can be enhanced by noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). In different sessions, participants received bilateral stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—DLPFC (Experiment1) and over the posterior parietal cortex–PPC (Experiment2), while performing the Compound Remote Associative task (CRA) assessing convergent thinking and the Alternative Uses Task (AUT) assessing divergent thinking. In Experiment1, anodal-left cathodal-right stimulation over the DLPFC significantly enhanced CRA performance. In Experiment2, stimulations over the PPC significantly increased insight solutions and decreased analytical solutions compared to the no stimulation condition. These findings provide direct evidence for the role of the left DLPFC in convergent and divergent thinking and a mediating role of the PPC in problem-solving behavior, presumably through attentional processes. From a methodological perspective, brain stimulation can be used as a tool to modulate and to explore components of creativity.