Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study
Conflicting theories identify creativity either with frontal-lobe mediated (Type-2) executive control processes or (Type-1) associative processes that are disinhibited when executive control is relaxed. Musical (jazz) improvisation is an ecologically valid test-case to distinguish between these view...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-06-01
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| Series: | NeuroImage |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920301191 |
| _version_ | 1818943623860846592 |
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| author | David S. Rosen Yongtaek Oh Brian Erickson Fengqing (Zoe) Zhang Youngmoo E. Kim John Kounios |
| author_facet | David S. Rosen Yongtaek Oh Brian Erickson Fengqing (Zoe) Zhang Youngmoo E. Kim John Kounios |
| author_sort | David S. Rosen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Conflicting theories identify creativity either with frontal-lobe mediated (Type-2) executive control processes or (Type-1) associative processes that are disinhibited when executive control is relaxed. Musical (jazz) improvisation is an ecologically valid test-case to distinguish between these views because relatively slow, deliberate, executive-control processes should not dominate during high-quality, real-time improvisation. In the present study, jazz guitarists (n = 32) improvised to novel chord sequences while 64-channel EEGs were recorded. Jazz experts rated each improvisation for creativity, technical proficiency and aesthetic appeal. Surface-Laplacian-transformed EEGs recorded during the performances were analyzed in the scalp-frequency domain using SPM12. Significant clusters of high-frequency (beta-band and gamma-band) activity were observed when higher-quality versus lower-quality improvisations were compared. Higher-quality improvisations were associated with predominantly posterior left-hemisphere activity; lower-quality improvisations were associated with right temporo-parietal and fronto-polar activity. However, after statistically controlling for experience (defined as the number of public performances previously given), performance quality was a function of right-hemisphere, largely right-frontal, activity. These results support the notion that superior creative production is associated with hypofrontality and right-hemisphere activity thereby supporting a dual-process model of creativity in which experience influences the balance between executive and associative processes. This study also highlights the idea that the functional neuroanatomy of creative production depends on whether creativity is defined in terms of the quality of products or the type of cognitive processes involved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:30:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a7df3e8d3c04dae86d8534cd5ed0b3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:30:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a7df3e8d3c04dae86d8534cd5ed0b3e2022-12-21T19:48:27ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722020-06-01213116632Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG studyDavid S. Rosen0Yongtaek Oh1Brian Erickson2Fengqing (Zoe) Zhang3Youngmoo E. Kim4John Kounios5Corresponding author.; Creativity Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, USACreativity Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, USACreativity Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, USACreativity Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, USACreativity Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, USACreativity Research Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Drexel University, USAConflicting theories identify creativity either with frontal-lobe mediated (Type-2) executive control processes or (Type-1) associative processes that are disinhibited when executive control is relaxed. Musical (jazz) improvisation is an ecologically valid test-case to distinguish between these views because relatively slow, deliberate, executive-control processes should not dominate during high-quality, real-time improvisation. In the present study, jazz guitarists (n = 32) improvised to novel chord sequences while 64-channel EEGs were recorded. Jazz experts rated each improvisation for creativity, technical proficiency and aesthetic appeal. Surface-Laplacian-transformed EEGs recorded during the performances were analyzed in the scalp-frequency domain using SPM12. Significant clusters of high-frequency (beta-band and gamma-band) activity were observed when higher-quality versus lower-quality improvisations were compared. Higher-quality improvisations were associated with predominantly posterior left-hemisphere activity; lower-quality improvisations were associated with right temporo-parietal and fronto-polar activity. However, after statistically controlling for experience (defined as the number of public performances previously given), performance quality was a function of right-hemisphere, largely right-frontal, activity. These results support the notion that superior creative production is associated with hypofrontality and right-hemisphere activity thereby supporting a dual-process model of creativity in which experience influences the balance between executive and associative processes. This study also highlights the idea that the functional neuroanatomy of creative production depends on whether creativity is defined in terms of the quality of products or the type of cognitive processes involved.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920301191CreativityEEGExpertiseJazz improvisationSPMSurface laplacian |
| spellingShingle | David S. Rosen Yongtaek Oh Brian Erickson Fengqing (Zoe) Zhang Youngmoo E. Kim John Kounios Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study NeuroImage Creativity EEG Expertise Jazz improvisation SPM Surface laplacian |
| title | Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study |
| title_full | Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study |
| title_fullStr | Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study |
| title_short | Dual-process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations: An SPM-EEG study |
| title_sort | dual process contributions to creativity in jazz improvisations an spm eeg study |
| topic | Creativity EEG Expertise Jazz improvisation SPM Surface laplacian |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920301191 |
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