Self-construals moderate associations between trait creativity and the social brain network

Publication date: Available online 9 February 2018 Source:Neuropsychologia Author(s): Yi Liu, Bing Wu, Claudio Petti, Xinhuai Wu, Shihui Han Creativity is an adaptive way of thinking and plays a key role in problem solving. Recent brain imaging studies focused on structural and functional characteristics of the brain that are correlated with creativity. But whether and how the association between creativity and the brain is moderated by individuals' cultural traits remains unclear. We integrated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and questionnaire measures (Williams creativity aptitude test) of trait creativity and self-construal (e.g., interdependence) in male adults to examine whether trait creativity is associated with neural activities underlying social cognition and whether and how the association is moderated by individuals' self-construals. We found that interdependence moderates the association between trait creativity and neural activities in the left superior temporal sulcus, right anterior insular, right temporal-parietal junction and right precentral gyrus engaged in reflection of one's own social attributes. Interdependence also moderates the association between trait creativity and neural activities in the left superior temporal sulcus and right posterior insular involved in reflection of a friend's social attributes. The relationships between trait creativity and the functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and postcentral g...

Source: Neuropsychologia - February 9, 2018 Category: Neurology Source Type: research