Rex E. Jung1,2, Arvind Caprihan1, Robert S. Chavez1, Ranee A. Flores1, Richard J. Haier1
1Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA; 2Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Creativity is defined as the production of something both novel and useful. We hypothesized inverse relationships between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and measures of divergent thinking and openness to experience. DTI and behavioral measures were obtained in 37 normal adults (age range 18-29). We found that fractional anisotropy (FA) of the right inferior-frontal fasciculus inversely predicted divergent thinking ( p = .004, r2 = .20), while left anterior thalamic radiation FA inversely predicted Openness to Experience (p = .001, r2 = 25). The results suggest possible downregulation of frontal functioning supporting creative capacity as hypothesized previously (Dietrich, 2007).