Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability
Abstract Creativity is hypothesized to arise from a mental state which balances spontaneous thought and cognitive control, corresponding to functional connectivity between the brain’s Default Mode (DMN) and Executive Control (ECN) Networks. Here, we conduct a large-scale, multi-center examination of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07470-9 |
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| author | Qunlin Chen Yoed N. Kenett Zaixu Cui Hikaru Takeuchi Andreas Fink Mathias Benedek Daniel C. Zeitlen Kaixiang Zhuang James Lloyd-Cox Ryuta Kawashima Jiang Qiu Roger E. Beaty |
| author_facet | Qunlin Chen Yoed N. Kenett Zaixu Cui Hikaru Takeuchi Andreas Fink Mathias Benedek Daniel C. Zeitlen Kaixiang Zhuang James Lloyd-Cox Ryuta Kawashima Jiang Qiu Roger E. Beaty |
| author_sort | Qunlin Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Creativity is hypothesized to arise from a mental state which balances spontaneous thought and cognitive control, corresponding to functional connectivity between the brain’s Default Mode (DMN) and Executive Control (ECN) Networks. Here, we conduct a large-scale, multi-center examination of this hypothesis. Employing a meta-analytic network neuroscience approach, we analyze resting-state fMRI and creative task performance across 10 independent samples from Austria, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States (N = 2433)—constituting the largest and most ethnically diverse creativity neuroscience study to date. Using time-resolved network analysis, we investigate the relationship between creativity (i.e., divergent thinking ability) and dynamic switching between DMN and ECN. We find that creativity, but not general intelligence, can be reliably predicted by the number of DMN-ECN switches. Importantly, we identify an inverted-U relationship between creativity and the degree of balance between DMN-ECN switching, suggesting that optimal creative performance requires balanced brain network dynamics. Furthermore, an independent task-fMRI validation study (N = 31) demonstrates higher DMN-ECN switching during creative idea generation (compared to a control condition) and replicates the inverted-U relationship. Therefore, we provide robust evidence across multi-center datasets that creativity is tied to the capacity to dynamically switch between brain networks supporting spontaneous and controlled cognition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-77d651ec7eec4af091410a8cf368eccd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-77d651ec7eec4af091410a8cf368eccd2025-01-19T12:35:27ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-01-018111310.1038/s42003-025-07470-9Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative abilityQunlin Chen0Yoed N. Kenett1Zaixu Cui2Hikaru Takeuchi3Andreas Fink4Mathias Benedek5Daniel C. Zeitlen6Kaixiang Zhuang7James Lloyd-Cox8Ryuta Kawashima9Jiang Qiu10Roger E. Beaty11Faculty of Psychology, Southwest UniversityFaculty of Data and Decision Sciences, Technion-Israel Institute of TechnologyChinese Institute for Brain ResearchDivision of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversityDepartment of Psychology, University of GrazDepartment of Psychology, University of GrazDepartment of Psychology, Pennsylvania State UniversityIInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of LondonDivision of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku UniversityFaculty of Psychology, Southwest UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Pennsylvania State UniversityAbstract Creativity is hypothesized to arise from a mental state which balances spontaneous thought and cognitive control, corresponding to functional connectivity between the brain’s Default Mode (DMN) and Executive Control (ECN) Networks. Here, we conduct a large-scale, multi-center examination of this hypothesis. Employing a meta-analytic network neuroscience approach, we analyze resting-state fMRI and creative task performance across 10 independent samples from Austria, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States (N = 2433)—constituting the largest and most ethnically diverse creativity neuroscience study to date. Using time-resolved network analysis, we investigate the relationship between creativity (i.e., divergent thinking ability) and dynamic switching between DMN and ECN. We find that creativity, but not general intelligence, can be reliably predicted by the number of DMN-ECN switches. Importantly, we identify an inverted-U relationship between creativity and the degree of balance between DMN-ECN switching, suggesting that optimal creative performance requires balanced brain network dynamics. Furthermore, an independent task-fMRI validation study (N = 31) demonstrates higher DMN-ECN switching during creative idea generation (compared to a control condition) and replicates the inverted-U relationship. Therefore, we provide robust evidence across multi-center datasets that creativity is tied to the capacity to dynamically switch between brain networks supporting spontaneous and controlled cognition.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07470-9 |
| spellingShingle | Qunlin Chen Yoed N. Kenett Zaixu Cui Hikaru Takeuchi Andreas Fink Mathias Benedek Daniel C. Zeitlen Kaixiang Zhuang James Lloyd-Cox Ryuta Kawashima Jiang Qiu Roger E. Beaty Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability Communications Biology |
| title | Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability |
| title_full | Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability |
| title_short | Dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability |
| title_sort | dynamic switching between brain networks predicts creative ability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07470-9 |
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