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EEG complexity and performance measures of creative thinking

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 1999

MATTHIAS MÖLLE ,
LISA MARSHALL ,
BRITTA WOLF ,
HORST L. FEHM  and
JAN BORN
MATTHIAS MÖLLE
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany
LISA MARSHALL
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany
BRITTA WOLF
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany
HORST L. FEHM
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany
JAN BORN
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany Department of Physiological Psychology, University of Bamberg, Germany
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Abstract

The electroencephalogram (EEG) was used because of its dimensional complexity to establish a differentiation of divergent versus convergent thought, considered fundamental modes of cortical processing. In 28 men, the EEG was recorded while solving tasks of divergent and convergent thinking and during mental relaxation. The EEG during divergent thought was compared between subjects achieving high versus low performance scores on this type of task. The dimensional complexity of the EEG was greater during divergent thinking than during convergent thinking. While solving tasks of divergent thinking, subjects with high performance scores had a lower EEG dimension than did subjects with low scores, in particular over frontal cortical areas. The changes were not reflected in single frequency bands of conventional EEG analysis. Based on Hebb's view of neuron assemblies as functional processing units, the higher EEG complexity during divergent than convergent thinking could be the result of the concurrent activation of a greater number of independently oscillating processing units.

Keywords

EEG dimensional complexityCreative divergent thinkingAnalytical convergent thinkingCell assemblies
Type
Research Article
Information
Psychophysiology , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 95 - 104
Copyright
1999 Society for Psychophysiological Research

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