Sleep and Creativity

Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern

Overview

Creativity is a complex neuro-psycho-philosophical phenomenon that is difficult to define. Neurocognitive models of creativity suggest that creativity is associated with the activity of a distributed, bilateral fronto-temporal and parietal network. Therefore, a modulation of frontal activity is necessary to allow a certain degree of "controlled disinhibition", which seems to be necessary for creative thinking. In addition, a modulation of the lower parietal lobe (IPL) might allow targeting the brain regions responsible for idea generation. This project will investigate the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with the intent of modulating creativity performance of healthy subjects. Resting state electroencephalography (EEG) that will be acquired pre- and post-TMS and participants' creative performance will be measured. Perspectives include a better understanding of the differences between high- and low-creativity groups, as measured by a creativity test battery, in their response to TMS. Additional perspectives are whether there are differences in creativity performance depending on the stimulation location.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Conditions

Creativity Performance in Healthy Subjects

Interventions

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) over the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL)DEVICE

MagPro X100, with MagPro software version 7.1; connected to a figure-of-eight coil (MC-B70) or a circular coil (MC-125). The device is CE marked and bears an ISO 13485 certificate complying with good manufacturing practice. Continuous theta burst stimulation protocol will be applied.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Informed consent as documented by signature * Age between 18 and 70 years * Neurologically healthy, i.e., with no documented or present neurological disease or brain injury * Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity Exclusion Criteria: * Any instable medical condition, in particular epilepsy (past or pre-sent, including seizures or febrile convulsions) * Any surgical intervention to the brain * Implanted medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants, infusion pumps, neurostimulators, pacemakers) * Presence of metal in the region of the head (excluding fixed dental implants such as tooth fillings or fixed dental braces) * Drug or alcohol abuse * Intake of any medication that is likely to lower seizure threshold * For female participants: in order to participate in the study, female patients in reproductive age need to take a pregnancy test (a stand-ard urine pregnancy test will be provided). * Previous enrolment in a creativity study of the same PI

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in creativity performance prior- and post-TMS

Change in creativity performance (as expressed by a summary score of single tests from a creativity test battery) prior- and post-TMS in low- and high-creativity groups

Time frame: 2.5 hours

Secondary Outcomes

Change in creativity performance prior- and post-TMS depending on stimulation location

Change in creativity performance (as expressed by a summary score of single tests from a creativity test battery) prior- and post-TMS depending on the stimulation location (left IFG versus left IPL)

Time frame: 2.5 hours