Neural and genetic mechanisms of creative potential

Creative potential exists in everyone and it has pervasively penetrated into our daily life. A series of recently studies have shed new light on the issue of how the brain produces creative potential and how genes affect it. The present study systematically explored the genetic and brain basis of creative potential. In terms of brain level, a wide range of brain regions in the structure and function are involved in creative potential. In terms of heredity level, genes involved in dopamine (DA) transmission such as the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT) and the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) have been considered as potential candidates for creative potential. Further, some trends of future research are pointed out for advancing our understanding of creative potential.