Abstract
The human prefrontal cortex (PFC) is an important target for research that attempts to elucidate and influence higher brain function using non-invasive neuroimaging techniques. In particular, creativity is a specific higher human brain function and is integral for the evolution of human society. Creative inspirations generated during creative activity often provide solutions to hard problems that lead to a progressive society. The present study examined PFC activity when creative inspiration occurred and evaluated the influence of brain activity on the quality of creation using the simplified music composition task and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Deeply understanding these brain functions possibly builds a foundation for the development of methods to stimulate brain activation for the simulation of creativity. The PFC activity measurements were achieved by measuring oxygen metabolism in cerebral blood flow (CBF) using wearable ten-channel optical topography. We invented a new, simplified method of music composition to analyze brain activity of a person without musical instrument experience. A report of creative inspirations was conducted by asking the subject to raise their hand to self-report instances of inspiration during the music composition task that were then compared against statistically analyzed brain activity before and after self-reported inspirations. A correlation coefficient between brain activity and self-evaluation measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) was investigated. The present research found that the right ventrolateral PFC is activated by creative inspiration. Significant brain activation of four out of five participating subjects was observed (p < 0.05). CBF increases delayed from inspirations, and mean delay time was approximately 12 s. We observed weak positive correlation between brain activity and self-evaluation in a wide range. However, the correlation coefficient was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The simplicity of the music composition task possibly masks clear correlation. In conclusion, the main finding is that right PFC activation via self-reported inspiration indicates an important mechanism of creativity.
Highlights
To bring out and freely control brain ability is a desirable goal for the improvement of an enriching lifestyle
Previous inspiration studies have demonstrated that the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) increases due to inspiration that is experienced during morphing image change detection tasks [5]
We investigated the following two factors: to evaluate the effect of creative inspiration to brain functional activation, we calculated mean values of oxy- and deoxy-Hb concentration change in 15 s after inspirations were reported and before in 15 s and conducted a statistical test whether there is a significant difference at a significance level of 5%; to confirm correlation between brain functional activation and subjective self-evaluation, we investigated the relationship between average values of oxy-Hb density change when brain activity was activated and selfevaluation that was measured using visual analog scale (VAS)
Summary
To bring out and freely control brain ability is a desirable goal for the improvement of an enriching lifestyle. Human brain mechanisms, especially those involving creativity, complex emotions, and self-consciousness, are not sufficiently delineated. The elucidation of these mechanisms is helpful and important for the improvement and individual quality of life and for the application in various commercial and medical fields. The. Alternately, creativity is an important brain function for the improvement of technology, culture, and individual lifestyles. Creative activities and artistic creations such as music are important factors in healing and relaxation during daily life [4]. When we engage in these creative activities, we often receive creative inspiration that results in good ideas suddenly coming to mind. Previous studies that use creative tasks in-
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