EEG alpha synchronization, especially in posterior parietal cortical regions of the right hemisphere, is indicative of high internal processing demands that are typically involved in divergent thinking (DT). During the course of DT, as ideation proceeds, ideas tend to become more creative, being more likely to be drawn from new conceptual categories through the use of the cognitive mechanism of flexibility. The present study investigated whether EEG alpha synchronization can be modulated by flexibility in DT by comparing cortical activation patterns during the switch of category (switching) and the stay in the same category (clustering). Twenty participants were required to generate alternative uses of everyday objects during EEG recording. Differential results were specifically found in the lower alpha band (8-10Hz): whereas clustering showed synchronization typically lateralized in the right posterior parietal areas, switching induced posterior parietal synchronization over both right and left hemispheres. These findings indicate that the two distinct cognitive mechanisms subsuming flexibility (switching and clustering) are associated with a different hemispheric modulation of lower alpha activity, as switching, in comparison to clustering, is related to higher power in the lower alpha band over the left hemisphere. Switching in comparison to clustering may thus require a larger investment of cognitive resources due to the exploratory process of moving from one semantic conceptual category to another in the course of creative ideation.

Mastria, S., Agnoli, S., Zanon, M., Acar, S., Runco, M.A., Corazza, G.E. (2021). Clustering and switching in divergent thinking: Neurophysiological correlates underlying flexibility during idea generation. NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA, 158, 1-11 [10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107890].

Clustering and switching in divergent thinking: Neurophysiological correlates underlying flexibility during idea generation

Mastria, Serena;Corazza, Giovanni Emanuele
2021

Abstract

EEG alpha synchronization, especially in posterior parietal cortical regions of the right hemisphere, is indicative of high internal processing demands that are typically involved in divergent thinking (DT). During the course of DT, as ideation proceeds, ideas tend to become more creative, being more likely to be drawn from new conceptual categories through the use of the cognitive mechanism of flexibility. The present study investigated whether EEG alpha synchronization can be modulated by flexibility in DT by comparing cortical activation patterns during the switch of category (switching) and the stay in the same category (clustering). Twenty participants were required to generate alternative uses of everyday objects during EEG recording. Differential results were specifically found in the lower alpha band (8-10Hz): whereas clustering showed synchronization typically lateralized in the right posterior parietal areas, switching induced posterior parietal synchronization over both right and left hemispheres. These findings indicate that the two distinct cognitive mechanisms subsuming flexibility (switching and clustering) are associated with a different hemispheric modulation of lower alpha activity, as switching, in comparison to clustering, is related to higher power in the lower alpha band over the left hemisphere. Switching in comparison to clustering may thus require a larger investment of cognitive resources due to the exploratory process of moving from one semantic conceptual category to another in the course of creative ideation.
2021
Mastria, S., Agnoli, S., Zanon, M., Acar, S., Runco, M.A., Corazza, G.E. (2021). Clustering and switching in divergent thinking: Neurophysiological correlates underlying flexibility during idea generation. NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA, 158, 1-11 [10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107890].
Mastria, Serena; Agnoli, Sergio; Zanon, Marco; Acar, Selcuk; Runco, Mark A; Corazza, Giovanni Emanuele
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Acceped Manuscript_EEG correlates of idea flexibility.pdf

Open Access dal 22/11/2022

Tipo: Postprint
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate (CCBYNCND)
Dimensione 704.94 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
704.94 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
1-s2.0-S002839322100141X-mmc1.docx

accesso aperto

Tipo: File Supplementare
Licenza: Licenza per accesso libero gratuito
Dimensione 20.55 kB
Formato Microsoft Word XML
20.55 kB Microsoft Word XML Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/822451
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 10
  • Scopus 32
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 27
social impact