Creative experiences and brain clocks
Abstract
Abstract Creative experiences may enhance brain health, yet metrics and mechanisms remain elusive. We characterized brain health using brain clocks, which capture deviations from chronological age (i.e., accelerated or delayed brain aging). We combined M/EEG functional connectivity (N = 1,240) with machine learning support vector machines, whole-brain modeling, and Neurosynth metanalyses. From this framework, we reanalyzed previously published datasets of expert and matched non-expert participants in dance, music, visual arts, and video games, along with a pre/post-learning study (N = 232). We found delayed brain age across all domains and scalable effects (expertise>learning). The higher the level of expertise and performance, the greater the delay in brain age. Age-vulnerable brain hubs showed increased connectivity linked to creativity, particularly in areas related to expertise and creative experiences. Neurosynth analysis and computational modeling revealed plasticity-driven increases in brain efficiency and biophysical coupling, in creativity-specific delayed brain aging. Findings indicate a domain‑independent link between creativity and brain health.
Article Details
Authors (50)
Carlos Coronel-Oliveros
Joaquín Migeot
Fernando Lehue
Lucia Amoruso
Natalia Kowalczyk-Grębska
Natalia Jakubowska
Kanad N. Mandke
Joana Pereira Seabra
Patricio Orio
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso
Dominic Campbell
Raul Gonzalez-Gomez
Pavel Prado
Jhosmary Cuadros
Enzo Tagliazucchi
Josephine Cruzat
Agustina Legaz
Vicente Medel
Hernan Hernandez
Sol Fittipaldi
Florencia Altschuler
Sebastian Moguilner
Sandra Báez
Hernando Santamaria-Garcia
Alfredis González-Hernández
Jasmin Bonilla-Santos
Bahar Güntekin
Claudio Babiloni
Daniel Abasolo
Gaetano Di Caterina
Görsev G. Yener
Javier Escudero
John Fredy Ochoa-Gómez
Marcio Soto-Añari
Martin A. Bruno
Pedro A. Valdes-Sosa
Renato Anghinah
Rodrigo A. Gonzalez-Montealegre
Ruaridh A. Clark
Adolfo M. García
Laura Kaltwasser
Martin Schürmann
Jil M. Meier
Aneta Brzezicka
Robert Whelan
Brian Lawlor
Ian H. Robertson
Christopher Bailey
Lucia Melloni
Nisha Sajnani
Agustín Ibañez