The Influence of Reward on the Performance of Verbal Creative Tasks: Behavioral and EEG Effects

摘要

The goal of this study was to compare the effects of the verbal instruction (IN1) that stimulated originality and of monetary reward (IN2) on the efficiency of performing a verbal creative task. The EEG patterns were also compared on the basis of mapping the bioelectric potential power within the frequency range of 4 to 30 Hz. Right-handed students (10 men and 10 women) participated in the experiment. The originality of the solution improves if a monetary reward is expected. In contrast to IN1, the promise of a monetary reward caused a global increase in task-related synchronization of bioelectric potentials in the θ_2 band. Hemispheric asymmetry of the power of the θ_1, θ_2, and α_2 rhythm grows with higher values in the right hemisphere. These changes in response to IN2 were in the background EEG, which testifies that an overall increase in hemispheric asymmetry induces a preparatory state after the promise of monetary reward. Specific changes in regional brain activity were at the β_2-rhythm frequency. In all posterior derivation, except for the fronto-temporal ones, the power of the β_2 rhythm decreased in response to IN2 in contrast to IN1. The reward-induced changes in EEG were characteristic of men to a greater extent. An increase in the θ_2-rhythm asymmetry and the power of the α rhythm was observed only in men in response to a monetary reward. Our results suggest that the promise of monetary reward is favorable for creative thinking and original solutions. Gender differences of changes in the power of bioelectric potentials suggest that the neurophysiological mechanisms of creativity are different in men and women.