Neural basis underlying the association between openness/intellect and scientific creativity achievement: the mediation role of the inferior frontal gyrus

Abstract

Scientific creativity is vital for cultivating higher-order thinking skills and preparing students for a rapidly evolving world. Research consistently highlights Intellect as a key driver of scientific creativity. However, the neural mechanisms underlying scientific creativity and the pathways through which Intellect contributes to it remain underexplored. This study utilized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in a large sample to investigate the neural correlates of scientific creativity and explored the neural mechanisms linking Intellect to scientific creativity. Behavioral analyses revealed positive associations between scientific creativity and openness to experience, particularly its facet of Intellect. VBM analyses showed that core regions of the executive control network (ECN) and the default mode network (DMN) were positively correlated with scientific creative achievement. In addition, mediation analysis demonstrated that gray matter volume (GMV) in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) partially mediated the relationship between Intellect and scientific creative achievement. These findings suggest that the IFG, which plays a crucial role in information retrieval and selection, facilitates the link between Intellect and scientific creativity. This research provides valuable insights into the relationship between openness to experience and scientific creativity, offering potential avenues for developing training programs aimed at enhancing students’ scientific creative abilities.