The relationship between methods of scoring the alternate uses task and the neural correlates of divergent thinking: Evidence from voxel-based morphometry

Oshin Vartanian,Ingrid Smith,Timothy K Lam,Kristen King,Quan Lam,Erin L Beatty

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117325

Oshin Vartanian, Ingrid Smith + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117325

Copy DOI

Abstract

Divergent thinking tests have been used extensively in neuroscientific studies of creativity. However, output from tests of divergent thinking can be scored in different ways, and those scores can influence assessments of divergent thinking performance and its relationship with brain activation. Here we sought to investigate the relationship between various methods of scoring the Alternate Uses Task (AUT)—a well-known test of divergent thinking—and regional grey matter volume (GMV) using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We assessed AUT performance based on (a) traditional approaches that involve scoring participants’ output on fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration, (b) a subjective approach that involves scoring output directly on “snapshot” creativity, and (c) the definitional approach that involves scoring output separately on novelty and usefulness—the two criteria deemed necessary and jointly sufficient to categorize an idea as creative. Correcting for age, sex, intracranial volume, verbal IQ and working memory capacity, we found negative correlations between regional GMV in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) and novelty and usefulness scores, but no correlation involving other scoring approaches. As part of the brain's core semantic system, this region is involved in concept retrieval and integration. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the neural bases of divergent thinking, and how ITG could be related to the generation of novel and useful responses.

Highlights

Divergent thinking is defined as the ability to generate multiple solutions in response to a given stimulus or problem (Guilford, 1967), wherein the process taps “cognition that leads in various directions” (Runco, 1999, p. 577)
Substantial work has already been conducted to explore the correlations between regional grey matter volume (GMV) and creativity, revealing a distributed set of regions that correlate negatively and/or positively with creativity across an assortment of measures (Table 1)
Previous behavioural studies have demonstrated that different scoring approaches to the Alternate Uses Task (AUT) exhibit different patterns of correlations with measures of intelligence and executive functions (Benedek et al, 2012, 2014; Jauk et al, 2013, 2014; Zabelina et al, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Divergent thinking is defined as the ability to generate multiple solutions in response to a given stimulus or problem (Guilford, 1967), wherein the process taps “cognition that leads in various directions” (Runco, 1999, p. 577). Divergent thinking is defined as the ability to generate multiple solutions in response to a given stimulus or problem (Guilford, 1967), wherein the process taps “cognition that leads in various directions” Tests of divergent thinking have been used extensively to study the psychological underpinnings of creativity (Plucker and Renzulli, 1999). The use of divergent thinking tests to assess creativity rests on the assumption that creativity benefits from the capacity for idea generation. Divergent thinking has been shown to predict creative achievement (Guilford, 1966; Kim, 2008; Plucker, 1999; Runco et al, 2010). Divergent thinking is only one of many types of cognition that underpins intelligent behaviour, including creative aspects thereof (see ReiterPalmon, 2018)

Methods

Results

Conclusion