Network 3: The Attentional Flexibility Network The Attentional Flexibility Network (typically referred to as the “Salience Network“) constantly monitors both external events and the internal stream of consciousness and flexibly passes the baton to either the Attentional Control or Imagination Network depending on whatever information is most salient to solving the task at hand. This network consists of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortices [dACC] and anterior insular [AI] and is important for dynamic switching between the Attentional Control and Imagination Networks. The Attentional Flexibility Network The Neuroscience of Creative Cognition: A First Approximation The key to understanding the neuroscience of creativity lies not only in knowledge of these large-scale networks, but in recognizing that different patterns of neural activations and deactivations are important at different stages of the creative process. Sometimes, it’s helpful for the networks to work with each other, and sometimes such cooperation can impede the creative process. In a recent large review, Rex Jung and colleagues provide a “first approximation” regarding how creative cognition might map on to the human brain. Their review suggests that when you want to loosen your associations, allow your mind to roam free, imagine new possibilities, and silence the inner critic, it’s good to reduce activation of the Attentional Control Network (a bit, but not completely) and increase activation of the Imagination and Attentional Flexibility Networks. Indeed, recent research on jazz musicians and rappers engaging in creative improvisation suggests that’s precisely what is happening in the brain while in a flow state.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 07:49:44 +0000
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