Krasnow Institute > Monday Seminars > Abstracts

Neuroanatomy of Creativity

Rex Jung

University of New Mexico
and
MIND Institute

The most common definition of creativity is something both novel and useful. Frontal and temporal lobe contributions have been highlighted, as several neurological disorders, including temporal lobe
epilepsy and frontotemporal dementia, have been associated with increased creative drive and output. We report results of brain correlates of creativity by use of structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI), proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). Methods: Subjects were recruited from the UNM campus through informational postings, were free of neurological or psychiatric disorders, and were between the ages of 18 and 25. Magnetic Resonance (MR) Studies: MR examinations were performed on a 1.5 Tesla Siemens Sonata scanner using an 8-channel phased array head coil. Creativity evaluation: The multiple uses test, free drawing, and four-line drawing tests were used to assess "divergent thinking", the average of which comprised a "creativity composite score".  Subjects
were also administered measures of intelligence and personality functioning.  Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first report linking psychometric measures of creativity (i.e., divergent thinking)
to anatomical measures of cortical volume, biochemistry, and white matter microstructure.

Back to Top

The Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study
Mail Stop 2A1, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: (703) 993-4333 Fax: (703) 993-4325
Email: krasnow-webmaster@gmu.edu