ENHANCED DYNAMIC COMPLEXITY IN THE HUMAN EEG DURING CREATIVE-THINKING

This study shows that divergent thinking, considered the general proce ss underlying creative production, can be distinguished from convergen t, analytical thought based on the dimensional complexity of ongoing e lectroencephalographic (EEG) activity. EEG complexity over the central and posterior cortex was higher while subjects solved tasks of diverg ent than convergent thinking, and also higher than during mental relax ation. Over the frontal cortex, EEG complexity was comparable during d ivergent thinking and mental relaxation, but reduced during convergent thinking. Results indicate that the basic process underlying the gene ration of novel ideas expresses itself in a strong increase in the EEG 's complexity, reflecting higher degrees of freedom in the competitive interactions among cortical neuron assemblies. Frontocortical EEG com plexity being comparable with that during mental relaxation, speaks fo r a loosened attentional control during creative thinking.