Openness/Intellect

Remotely Close Associations: Openness to Experience and Semantic Memory Structure

“…Thus, semantic association structure increased in flexibility as openness increased. Overall, these findings are consistent with the notion that open people are epitomized by a creative disposition and suggests that associative semantic structure underlies the relationship between openness to experience and creativity Oleynick et al, 2017).…”

“…For example, semantic memory has been proposed as the root of imagination (Abraham & Bubic, 2015) and central to creativity (Mednick, 1962). These processes-imagination and creativity-are considered to be core characteristics of people high in openness to experience (DeYoung, Grazioplene, & Peterson, 2012;Oleynick et al, 2017;Saucier, 1992). But despite these intermediary connections, the relation between semantic memory and openness to experience have yet to be empirically examined.…”

Brain networks of the imaginative mind: Dynamic functional connectivity of default and cognitive control networks relates to openness to experience

“…It remains unclear, however, whether Openness relates to whole‐brain dynamic connectivity or other intrinsic networks not considered in the current analysis (e.g., subcortical and sensorimotor networks). Indeed, past work has reported associations between Openness and functional connectivity within mesocortical networks (Passamonti et al, ), consistent with studies linking Openness to enhanced functioning of dopaminergic circuits (Oleynick et al, ). We thus encourage future research to examine dynamic connectivity of sensory, limbic, and whole‐brain networks to determine whether Openness and other personality factors relate to dynamic connectivity of states comprised of these cortical systems.…”

“…One particularly relevant trait is Openness to Experience, a Big Five personality factor characterized by the tendency to engage in imaginative, creative, and abstract cognitive processes (DeYoung, ). “Imagination” was originally considered as a possible label for the trait that was ultimately labeled “Openness,” and it continues to be a defining description of those high in Openness to Experience (DeYoung, Grazioplene, & Peterson, ; Oleynick et al, ; Saucier, ). Openness is also referred to as the “creativity trait” because it strongly predicts performance on creative thinking tasks (Dollinger, Urban, & James, ; Silvia et al, ), frequency of real‐world creative achievements (Kaufman, ; Kaufman et al, ), and engagement in everyday creative behaviors (Silvia, Nusbaum, Berg, Martin, & O'Conner, ).…”

“…Functional imaging studies indicate that the DN supports specific types of self‐generated thought, such as imagination and creativity, through its interactions with brain systems associated with cognitive control (Beaty, Benedek, Silvia, & Schacter, ; Christoff, Irving, Fox, Spreng, & Andrews‐Hanna, ; Zabelina & Andrews‐Hanna, ), suggesting that brain network flexibility supports cognitive flexibility (cf., Braun et al, ; Shine et al, ). Here, we aimed to extend research on brain networks underlying imaginative thought by assessing dynamic fluctuations of resting‐state network interactions in relation to individual differences in Openness to Experience, a personality trait epitomized by imagination and creativity (Oleynick et al, ; Saucier, ). This approach allowed us to investigate brain network function associated with high imaginative ability.…”