Emotion-related brain structures associated with trait creativity in middle children. (29th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xia, Yunman; Zhuang, Kaixiang; Sun, Jiangzhou; Chen, Qunlin; Wei, Dongtao; Yang, Wenjing; Qiu, Jiang
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 658(2017)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2017-09-29
• Subjects: Middle children -- Trait creativity -- Limbic lobe -- OFC -- Emotion-related regions; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.08.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: In neuroimaging domain, creative development studies to date have predominately focused on creative cognition, like divergent thinking, but have ignored the creative-related individual differences. This study is the first to demonstrate the brain structures that underlie trait creativity in underage individuals (middle children). The results indicated that several emotion-related regions may relate to trait creativity in middle children. Specifically, the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the amygdala and hippocampus was negatively related to creative traits of challenge and risk-taking, which indicates that children with increased trait creativity may be more impulsive when they engage in creative activities. An increased rGMV in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was related to an increased trait of imagination, which may be associated with stronger sensation-seeking in children. These findings indirectly supported that emotional or motivational driving forces are also important to creativity. Driven by a relatively stronger effect of sensation-seeking (via recruitment of the OFC), children with increased trait creativity may exhibit more risk-taking and challenging behaviors (via recruitment of the amygdala and hippocampus) when they practice their creativity. Abstract: Middle childhood is an important period for individual trait shaping, during which children are likely to generate and own their distinct neuromechanism of creative-related traits. This study used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to identify the brain structures that underlie trait creativity (as measured by the Williams Creativity Aptitude Test) in a sample of typical developing children (aged 9–12, n = 64). The results indicated that several emotion-related regions may relate to trait creativity in middle children. Specifically, the regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in the amygdala and hippocampus was negatively related to creative traits of challenge and risk-taking, which indicates that children with increased trait creativity may be more impulsive when they engage in creative activities. An increased rGMV in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was related to an increased trait of imagination, which may be associated with stronger sensation-seeking in children. These findings are the first to demonstrate the brain structures that underlie trait creativity in middle children, and indicated that, driven by a relatively stronger effect of sensation-seeking (via recruitment of the OFC), children with increased trait creativity may exhibit more risk-taking and challenging behaviors (via recruitment of the amygdala and hippocampus) when they practice their creativity.