Neural correlates of creative insight: Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation of resting-state brain activity predicts creative insight

Abstract

Creative insight has attracted much attention across cultures. Although previous studies have explored the neural correlates of creative insight by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), little is known about intrinsic resting-state brain activity associated with creative insight. In the present study, we used amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) as an index in resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) to identify brain regions involved in individual differences in creative insight, which was measured by the response time of creative Chinese character chunk decomposition. Our results showed that ALFF in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) positively predicted creative insight, while ALFF in the middle cingulate cortex/insula cortex (MCC/IC), superior temporal gyrus/angular gyrus (STG/AG), anterior cingulate cortex/caudate nucleus (ACC/CN), and culmen/declive (CU/DC) negatively predicted creative insight. Moreover, these findings indicate that spontaneous brain activity in multiple regions related to breaking mental sets, solutions exploring, evaluation of novel solutions, forming task-related associations, and emotion experience contributes to creative insight. In conclusion, the present study provides new evidence to further understand the cognitive processing and neural correlates of creative insight.

Correction: Neural correlates of creative insight: Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation of resting-state brain activity predicts creative insight

“…The authors reused Fig 1A and 2 from a previously published related article in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience [1] prior to the publication of their PLOS ONE article [2], but did not cite or discuss this related work. In addition, Fig 2 in both articles appear similar.…”

“…Specifically, data used in both figure came from the same dataset but with different sample sizes. [2] reported results from all 62 participants. Meanwhile, [1] reported results from 50 participants.…”

“…The authors wish to clarify the relationship between the two articles: The authors tested the relationship between low frequency oscillations and creative insight; measured ALFF and reported the results in the PLOS ONE article [2]. However, the authors also tested the relationship between local connectivity and creative insight; measured ReHo and reported results in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience article [1].…”

“…The study published in [1] was based on a subsample (80%) of the population studied in [2] and the creative insight tasks in both studies were identical. For each ROI, the authors estimated the correlations between ALFF and ReHo values.…”

“…The authors scanned 62 participants and all of them passed the screen tests (e.g., head motion) and ALFF results from these participants has been published in [2]. However, in [1], the authors reported ReHo results of 50 participants out of the total 62 participants.…”