FMRI-based brain signature of divergent thinking

COEX 

Divergent thinking constitutes a vital component of creativity – a complex cognitive process that necessitates the collaborative engagement of multiple brain regions involved in distinct functions (1, 2). Prior studies employed connectivity measures at rest and have implicated the involvement of default, salience and executive systems (3). However, the neural signature of divergent thinking during task performance remains elusive, requiring further characterization of this higher cognitive process. Here, we employed fMRI data from two large samples in conjunction with machine learning techniques to identify and delineate a neural marker capable of predicting divergent thinking ability both at the group and individual levels. We then further described this marker in the context of cortical connectivity gradients and meta-analytic decoding to unravel its architectural principals within the hierarchical organization of the human brain.