Large-scale brain network connectivity underlying creativity in resting-state and task fMRI: Cooperation between default network and frontal-parietal network

Creativity is imperative to social development and the promotion of well-being. Here, independent component analysis and functional network connectivity analysis methods were applied to both resting-state and divergent thinking task fMRI data from the same sample to investigate large-scale brain network connectivity underlying creativity. The results showed that the strength of the connectivity between the posterior default mode network (DMN) and right frontal-parietal network (FPN) was significantly greater whereas the right FPN and left FPN connectivity strength was weaker in the creative condition than in the control condition. In addition, the posterior DMN and right FPN connectivity strength in the divergent thinking task was positively correlated with the connectivity strength between anterior DMN and left FPN during the resting-state. Moreover, the anterior DMN and left FPN connectivity strength during the resting-state was positively correlated with the originality score derived from divergent thinking task. Taken together, these findings extend previous research by revealing the cooperation between the DMN and FPN involved in creative thinking during both resting-state and task fMRI and provide insights into the prediction of creative thinking performance through brain network connectivity during resting-state and task fMRI in the future.