Scientists found a brain circuit that unleashes creativity
Kyiv • UNN
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have identified a brain circuit in the right hemisphere responsible for creativity. Injuries and neurological diseases affecting this area can enhance a person's creative abilities.
Creativity is controlled by the frontal area of the right hemisphere. According to researchers, injuries and neurological diseases can unleash a person's creative potential. This is reported by UNN with reference to Mass General Brigham, Jama Network Open and ANSA.
Details
Analyzing data from 857 participants in 36 fMRI studies, researchers from Mass General Brigham identified a brain circuit that influences the development of creativity.
This refers to a part of the brain that is controlled by the frontal area of the right hemisphere. Interestingly, its activity can be enhanced or reduced under the influence of brain lesions and neurodegenerative diseases, scientists say.
That is, people with brain injuries affecting this circuit may show signs of increased creative activity.
Expert explanations
We wanted to understand which brain areas are crucial for human creativity and how this relates to the consequences of brain injury.
Co-author Michael D. Fox, MD, noted that complex behaviors such as creativity are not reflected in a specific brain area, but are reflected in specific brain circuits.
Julian Kutsche, MA, first author of the article, mentioned that some people with brain diseases exhibit new creative behaviors that correspond to specific patterns of damage in the creativity circuit.
Free your mind and unleash your creative potential
A decrease in activity in the right frontal pole may support the idea that creativity involves disengaging certain functions.
To be creative, you probably have to turn off your inner critic so you can find new directions and even make mistakes.
Creativity may require stopping self-censoring thoughts and allowing ideas and associations to develop freely.
These findings may help explain how some neurodegenerative diseases can lead to a decrease in creative abilities, while others may show a paradoxical increase in creative abilities. They may also potentially point to a new way to stimulate the brain and enhance human creativity.
Supplement
The results of the study were published in the journal Jama Network Open by an international research group led by Massachusetts General Brigham from the United States.
Reference
General Brigham is the largest hospital research enterprise in the United States, as well as a non-profit, integrated healthcare system dedicated to medical research, education, and patient care.