Open AccessCreative females have larger white matter structures: Evidence from a large sample study
Author(s) -
Takeuchi Hikaru,
Taki Yasuyuki,
Nouchi Rui,
Yokoyama Ryoichi,
Kotozaki Yuka,
Nakagawa Seishu,
Sekiguchi Atsushi,
Iizuka Kunio,
Yamamoto Yuki,
Hanawa Sugiko,
Araki Tsuyoshi,
Makoto Miyauchi Carlos,
Shinada Takamitsu,
Sakaki Kohei,
Sassa Yuko,
Nozawa Takayuki,
Ikeda Shigeyuki,
Yokota Susumu,
Daniele Magistro,
Kawashima Ryuta
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.23369
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , psychology , white matter , diffusion mri , brain size , hum , neocortex , lateralization of brain function , creativity , association (psychology) , developmental psychology , voxel , brain morphometry , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , magnetic resonance imaging , social psychology , medicine , art , performance art , psychotherapist , radiology , art history
The importance of brain connectivity for creativity has been theoretically suggested and empirically demonstrated. Studies have shown sex differences in creativity measured by divergent thinking (CMDT) as well as sex differences in the structural correlates of CMDT. However, the relationships between regional white matter volume (rWMV) and CMDT and associated sex differences have never been directly investigated. In addition, structural studies have shown poor replicability and inaccuracy of multiple comparisons over the whole brain. To address these issues, we used the data from a large sample of healthy young adults (776 males and 560 females; mean age: 20.8 years, SD = 0.8). We investigated the relationship between CMDT and WMV using the newest version of voxel‐based morphometry (VBM). We corrected for multiple comparisons over whole brain using the permutation‐based method, which is known to be quite accurate and robust. Significant positive correlations between rWMV and CMDT scores were observed in widespread areas below the neocortex specifically in females. These associations with CMDT were not observed in analyses of fractional anisotropy using diffusion tensor imaging. Using rigorous methods, our findings further supported the importance of brain connectivity for creativity as well as its female‐specific association. Hum Brain Mapp 38:414–430, 2017 . © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.