Enhanced intrinsic functional connectivity in the visual system of visual artist: Implications for creativity

Tzu-Yi Hong; Ching-Ju Yang; Chung-Heng Shih; Sheng-Fen Fan; Tzu-Chen Yeh; Hsin-Yen Yu; Li-Fen Chen; Jen-Chuen Hsieh

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1114771

Enhanced intrinsic functional connectivity in the visual system of visual artist: Implications for creativity

Front Neurosci. 2023 Feb 22:17:1114771. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1114771. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Tzu-Yi Hong^{1

2}, Ching-Ju Yang^{1

2}, Chung-Heng Shih¹, Sheng-Fen Fan^{1

2}, Tzu-Chen Yeh^{2

3}, Hsin-Yen Yu⁴, Li-Fen Chen^{1

2

5

6}, Jen-Chuen Hsieh^{2

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Brain Science, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Integrated Brain Research Unit, Division of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Graduate Institute of Arts and Humanities Education, Taipei National University of the Arts, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁶ Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
⁸ Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Abstract

Introduction: This study sought to elucidate the cognitive traits of visual artists (VAs) from the perspective of visual creativity and the visual system (i.e., the most fundamental neural correlate).

Methods: We examined the local and long-distance intrinsic functional connectivity (FC) of the visual system to unravel changes in brain traits among VAs. Twenty-seven university students majoring in visual arts and 27 non-artist controls were enrolled.

Results: VAs presented enhanced local FC in the right superior parietal lobule, right precuneus, left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), left superior parietal lobule, left angular gyrus, and left middle occipital gyrus. VAs also presented enhanced FC with the ITG that targeted the visual area (occipital gyrus and cuneus), which appears to be associated with visual creativity.

Discussion: The visual creativity of VAs was correlated with strength of intrinsic functional connectivity in the visual system. Learning-induced neuroplasticity as a trait change observed in VAs can be attributed to the macroscopic consolidation of consociated neural circuits that are engaged over long-term training in the visual arts and aesthetic experience. The consolidated network can be regarded as virtuoso-specific neural fingerprint.

Keywords: creativity; functional connectivity; functional magnetic resonance imaging; resting state; visual artist; visual system.

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the National Science and Technology Council (NSC 102-2420-H-075-001-MY3, NSC 102-2420-H-075-001-MY3-2, NSC 102-2420-H-075-001-MY3-3, NSC 102-2420-H-010-005-MY3, NSC 102-2420-H-010-005-MY3-2, and NSC 102-2420-H-010-005-MY3-3), the Taipei Veterans General Hospital (V99C1-155), “Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS²B)” and Brain Research Center of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan, and the Aim for the Top University Plan of the MOE for National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.