Creating Well-Being: Increased Creativity and proNGF Decrease following Quadrato Motor Training

Abstract

Mind-body practices (MBP) are known to induce electrophysiological and morphological changes, whereas reports related to changes of neurotrophins are surprisingly scarce. Consequently, in the current paper, we focused on the Quadrato motor training (QMT), a newly developed whole-body movement-based MBP, which has been reported to enhance creativity. Here we report the effects of 4 weeks of daily QMT on creativity and proNGF level in two interrelated studies. In Study A, we examined the effects of QMT compared with a walking training (WT) in healthy adults, utilizing the alternate uses task. In contrast with the WT, QMT resulted in increased creativity. In addition, the change in creativity negatively correlated with the change in proNGF levels. In Study B, we examined QMT effects on creativity and additional metacognitive functions in children, using a nonintervention group as control. Similar to Study A, following QMT, we found a negative correlation of proNGF with creativity, as well as working memory updating and planning ability. Together, the current results point to the relationship between increased creativity and decreased proNGF following MBP. Thus, the current research emphasizes the importance of widening the scope of examination of “MBP in motion” in relation to metacognition and well-being.

Embodied cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity following Quadrato Motor Training

“…In another recent study, we examined the effects of a month of daily QMT as opposed to simple WT, tapping the motor aspect of QMT ( Venditti et al, 2014 ). This study reported increased flexibility and fluency following QMT but not WT.…”

“…Flexibility conveys information that is not conveyed by fluency ( Guilford, 1968 ; Runco, 1986 ). This task was chosen here as it was previously used to assess change in cognitive flexibility following motor training ( Netz et al, 2007 ; Venditti et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Long-term effects of a month of daily QMT on divergent thinking were previously studied in comparison to simple walking training (WT; Venditti et al, 2014 ). Both fluency and flexibility increased only in the QMT group ( Venditti et al, 2014 ).…”

“…Long-term effects of a month of daily QMT on divergent thinking were previously studied in comparison to simple walking training (WT; Venditti et al, 2014 ). Both fluency and flexibility increased only in the QMT group ( Venditti et al, 2014 ). These significant differences might have stemmed from the cognitive aspect of the contemplative movement (QMT), relatively missing from the non-contemplative simple walking (WT).…”

Inner Design Technology: Improved Affect by Quadrato Motor Training

“…Mindfulness can be achieved by many ways, and is important for disengaging from automatic thoughts (such as "no one likes me," "I can't stand feeling this way"), habits and unhealthy behavioral patterns. It plays a key role in fostering and orienting attention, thus adding clarity to the experience, which in turn can significantly contribute to well-being and happiness [20,24,25]. Mindfulness-based training is associated with reduced anxiety [26]; adaptive response to stress [27]; decreased ego-defensive responsivity under threat [24]; decreased difficulties regulating emotions [28]; and reduced emotional interference resulting from unpleasant stimuli and less prolonged physiological reactivity to negative emotional stimuli [29].…”