EEG “Signs” of Verbal Creative Task Fulfillment with and without Overcoming Self-Induced Stereotypes

Abstract

The study aimed to reveal task-related differences in story creation with and without the mental effort of overcoming self-induced stereotypes. Eighteen right-handed subjects (19.3 ± 1.1 years old) created stories. The subjects reported the formation of story plot stereotypes (as we call them: self-induced) during self-regulated creative production, which had to be overcome with the instruction to continue the story. Creative task fulfillment (without formed stereotypes-first stage of creation) was characterized by a decrease in the wave percentages of 9-10 Hz, 10-11 Hz and 11-12 Hz frequencies and EEG desynchronization (decreases in EEG spectral power) in the theta (4-8 Hz), alpha1 (8-10 Hz) and alpha2 (10-13 Hz) frequency bands in comparison with the REST (random episodic silent thought) state. The effortful creation task (with overcoming of self-induced stereotypes-second stage of creation) was characterized by increases in waves with frequencies of 9-10 Hz, 10-11 Hz, 11-12 Hz in temporal, occipital areas and pronounced EEG synchronization in alpha1,2 frequency bands in comparison with the free creation condition. It was also found, that the participants with the higher originality scores in psychological tests demonstrated increased percentage of high frequencies (11-12 Hz in comparison with those who had lower originality scores. Obtained results support the role of alpha and theta frequency bands dynamics in creative cognition.

EEG signals respond differently to idea generation, idea evolution and evaluation in a loosely controlled creativity experiment

“…In addition, this finding is consistent with that alpha power desynchronization being associated with the generation of first responses of four alternative uses 27 . Similarly, alpha power desynchronization was also observed during the verbal creative tasks fulfillment with and without overcoming self-inducted stereotypes, which lasted a few minutes 84 . Moreover, alpha power decreased significantly over temporal sites during evaluation compared to during idea evolution.…”

Network oscillations imply the highest cognitive workload and lowest cognitive control during idea generation in open-ended creation tasks

“…Recent studies in the field of neurocognitive creativity demonstrated the functional role of changes in alpha power. Some studies indicated that alpha power decreased from rest to creativity-related tasks 17 , 19 , 68 , 76 while others reported that alpha power increased from rest to creativity related tasks following a U-shaped curve 77 – 80 . The former is in line with the finding that a reduction of alpha power is associated with a more complex and ill-defined problem, especially in ecologically valid settings where a higher cognitive workload is triggered 17 , 67 , 68 .…”

“…Idea generation is related to activity in the default-mode network (DMN) while idea evaluation is linked to the executive control network 10 – 13 . EEG studies indicated that idea generation is associated with decreases in alpha power over almost all sites, suggesting increased cognitive workload 14 – 19 . An increase in cognitive workload frequently occurs at the beginning and end of idea generation 20 , 21 , an effect that influences the subjective rating of task difficulty 22 .…”