EEG 'Signs' of Verbal Creative Task Fulfillment with and without Overcoming Self-Induced Stereotypes

The study aimed to reveal task-related differences in story creation with and without the mental effort of overcoming self-induced stereotypes. Eighteen right-handed subjects (19.3 &plusmn
1.1 years old) created stories. The subjects reported the formation of story plot stereotypes (as we call them: self-induced) during self-regulated creative production, which had to be overcome with the instruction to continue the story. Creative task fulfillment (without formed stereotypes&mdash
first stage of creation) was characterized by a decrease in the wave percentages of 9&ndash
10 Hz, 10&ndash
11 Hz and 11&ndash
12 Hz frequencies and EEG desynchronization (decreases in EEG spectral power) in the theta (4&ndash
8 Hz), alpha1 (8&ndash
10 Hz) and alpha2 (10&ndash
13 Hz) frequency bands in comparison with the REST (random episodic silent thought) state. The effortful creation task (with overcoming of self-induced stereotypes-second stage of creation) was characterized by increases in waves with frequencies of 9&ndash
11 Hz, 11&ndash
12 Hz in temporal, occipital areas and pronounced EEG synchronization in alpha1,2 frequency bands in comparison with the free creation condition. It was also found, that the participants with the higher originality scores in psychological tests demonstrated increased percentage of high frequencies (11&ndash
12 Hz in comparison with those who had lower originality scores. Obtained results support the role of alpha and theta frequency bands dynamics in creative cognition.