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Introduction Creativity is a complex construct that lies at the core of what has made human civilizations possible. One frequently used measure of creativity is the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults that yields an overall creativity score. In this study, we examine the relationship between the task‐related differences in brain functional connectivity and the creativity score in a male and female group of participants. Methods Brain functional connectivity was estimated from the steady‐state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) event‐related partial coherence in a group of 27 females and 27 males while they performed a low‐demand visual vigilance task and the A‐X version of the Continuous Performance Task. Task‐related differences in brain functional connectivity (ΔFC) were correlated with the creativity score separately in the female and male groups. Results We found that the creativity score was correlated with a parieto‐frontal ΔFC component for both the female and male groups. However, significant gender differences were observed in both the timing and the laterality of the parietal component. Females exhibited a left parietal to bilateral frontal ΔFC component correlated with creativity score and this peaked on the appearance of a target in both tasks. By contrast, males demonstrated a right parietal to bilateral frontal ΔFC component correlated with creativity score which peaked on the appearance of the letter following the targets. Conclusion These findings are discussed in the context of the role of the Default Mode Network in creativity, and the role of gender‐related differences in cortical networks that mediate creativity.

The location, nature and characteristics of brain activity during detection and identification of odors are of importance if brain function techniques are to be of value to sensory systems. Steady state probe topography (SSPT) has been used in our laboratory to record steady state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP), which have demonstrated cognitive task-related changes in a variety of testing paradigms. The enhanced spatial (when using 64 channels) and temporal resolution (380 ms) of the system enable the brain electrical activity changes occurring before, during and after delivery of an odor to be examined. We have developed a system which can deliver odors during normal respiration and the accurate timing needed for SSVEP recordings. The system is based on the premise that a subject breathing butanol compared with filtered medical air will demonstrate SSVEP topographic changes associated with detection and identification of butanol. During our experiments the subject has either an air sample or an equal volume of butanol injected into the inspiratory airflow. These are randomized, and every breath has the same stimulus system with no known clues as to the differences apart from detection. The results from a panel of 10 female subjects--who all identified the butanol correctly--showed that butanol delivery resulted in sequences of changes in SSVEP topography (amplitude and latencies) which involved parietal, frontal and temporal regions. While consistent with other studies (parietal changes), our results revealed more dynamic temporal changes involving prefrontal and parietal regions at different periods around odor delivery.

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