TY - JOUR
T1 - Oxytonergic circuitry sustains and enables creative cognition in humans
AU - De Dreu, Carsten K W
AU - Baas, Matthijs
AU - Roskes, Marieke
AU - Sligte, Daniel J.
AU - Ebstein, Richard P.
AU - Chew, Soo Hong
AU - Tong, Terry
AU - Jiang, Yushi
AU - Mayseless, Naama
AU - Shamay-Tsoory, Simone G.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Creativity enables humans to adapt flexibly to changing circumstances, to manage complex social relations and to survive and prosper through social, technological and medical innovations. In humans, chronic, trait-based as well as temporary, state-based approach orientation has been linked to increased capacity for divergent rather than convergent thinking, to more global and holistic processing styles and to more original ideation and creative problem solving. Here, we link creative cognition to oxytocin, a hypothalamic neuropeptide known to up-regulate approach orientation in both animals and humans. Study 1 (N=492) showed that plasma oxytocin predicts novelty-seeking temperament. Study 2 (N=110) revealed that genotype differences in a polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene rs1042778 predicted creative ideation, with GG/GT-carriers being more original than TT-carriers. Using double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects designs, Studies 3-6 (N=191) finally showed that intranasal oxytocin (vs matching placebo) reduced analytical reasoning, and increased holistic processing, divergent thinking and creative performance. We conclude that the oxytonergic circuitry sustains and enables the day-to-day creativity humans need for survival and prosperity and discuss implications.
AB - Creativity enables humans to adapt flexibly to changing circumstances, to manage complex social relations and to survive and prosper through social, technological and medical innovations. In humans, chronic, trait-based as well as temporary, state-based approach orientation has been linked to increased capacity for divergent rather than convergent thinking, to more global and holistic processing styles and to more original ideation and creative problem solving. Here, we link creative cognition to oxytocin, a hypothalamic neuropeptide known to up-regulate approach orientation in both animals and humans. Study 1 (N=492) showed that plasma oxytocin predicts novelty-seeking temperament. Study 2 (N=110) revealed that genotype differences in a polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene rs1042778 predicted creative ideation, with GG/GT-carriers being more original than TT-carriers. Using double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects designs, Studies 3-6 (N=191) finally showed that intranasal oxytocin (vs matching placebo) reduced analytical reasoning, and increased holistic processing, divergent thinking and creative performance. We conclude that the oxytonergic circuitry sustains and enables the day-to-day creativity humans need for survival and prosperity and discuss implications.
KW - Creative cognition
KW - Divergent thinking
KW - Neurohormones
KW - Oxytocin
KW - Polymorphism
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84905914197&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/scan/nst094
DO - 10.1093/scan/nst094
M3 - Article
C2 - 23863476
AN - SCOPUS:84905914197
SN - 1749-5016
VL - 9
SP - 1159
EP - 1165
JO - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
JF - Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
IS - 8
M1 - nst094
ER -