Interhemispheric functional connectivity and its relationships with creative problem solving

Neuroreport. 2019 Apr 10;30(6):415-420. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001217.

Abstract

Creative problem solving (CPS) is a particular mental process when people solve problems. Findings from previous research, which used functional MRI, showed that CPS could involve specific neural mechanisms. However, few studies have directly explored the changes of interhemispheric resting-state functional connectivity during CPS. Recently, a validated voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method has been widely used to calculate the interhemispheric resting-state functional connectivity. In this study, we recruited 60 participants and used a revised chunk decomposing task to estimate participants' individual differences during CPS. Then, the VMHC method was used to explore neural correlates underlying individual differences of CPS. Results showed that altered VMHC in the bilateral middle frontal gyrus/precentral gyrus, bilateral hippocampus/insula/amygdala, and bilateral fusiform gyrus/cerebellum/middle occipital gyrus was related to individual differences of CPS. These brain regions reflect the information integration of both hemispheres might be critical for CPS. Therefore, our results may shed light on the neural correlates of CPS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Creativity*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neural Pathways / physiology*
  • Problem Solving / physiology*
  • Young Adult