Scientists associate brain damage with increased creativity

Scientists have discovered an interesting link between creativity and cognitive damage.

In addition to the production of art and literature, creativity is essential for problem solving and adaptation.

A team of investigators tried to better understand the brain circuits that produce creativity and evaluate the relationship between the functioning of those circuits and the damage to the brain and the neurodegeneous disease.

The team was specifically interested if creativity maps in a specific brain circuit and if damage to this circuit coincides with changes in the capacity of creativity that accompany damage and brain disease.

Using the mapping of the meta-analytical data network from 857 participants, researchers found that the tasks of creativity make a map in a human brain circuit centered on the front of the brain called the right frontal pole.

Called “Circuit of Creativity”, damage to this area due to damage or brain disease resulted in both decreases and increased creativity.

Interestingly, among people with typical brain behavior, researchers believe that this circuit area can act as a kind of “brake” on creativity.

When this brake is released through damage or neurodegeneous disease, it can promote an increase in creativity. Experts think that this relaxation release serves to explain why people with certain brain diseases express latent artistic talent.

Dr. Randy D’Amico, director of the brain and spine metastasis program at Northwell Lenox Hospital Hill told the post this study “rolling in the usual way we think of brain damage and mental health in his head.” … work work.

“It means that the pathology of the brain not only removes things, but can also unlock unexpected skills,” he continued.

“As we continue to study how brain tumors influence brain attachment, how our treatments can further affect the function of these critical networks, and what recovery seems, studies like these are critical to the design of functional architecture Too complex brain. “

D’Amico noted that in addition to brain damage and brain disease, mental illness can affect our relationship with creativity.

“For example, bipolar disorder affects the same brain networks associated with creativity-especially those that control attention, self-monitoring and generation of ideas,” he said.

“If someone’s brain has less braking and more free flow connections, they can come with more wild ideas, more original than average person.”

However, he added that this braking can also create disorganized thoughts and impulsive behaviors that can complicate daily life.

“While this study does not address mental illness, it supports the idea that the link between creativity and mental illness is not just a stereotype in certain people, can be a true, brain-based phenomenon,” he explained.

For those who ask if an increase in damage after creativity or while age is a cause for the alarm, d’Amico says not necessarily.

“If someone simply collects painting in their 50s or suddenly really is really taken in writing, it’s probably just those by entering something they always had inside or can simply be due to the experience of life, inspirations of cloud or personal growth, ”he said.

However, if that free source of flow creativity is associated with personality changes, obsessive concentration or impulsive behavior, it may be time to seek medical treatment.

“There are some brain disorders, such as frontotemporral dementia, which affects a small percentage of people, where people lose certain cognitive abilities but get unexpected outbreaks of creativity. So if one’s behavior is dramatically moved, can It’s worth looking at.

“Otherwise, maybe they are simply leaving their creative side.”