Research ReportUsing a shoe as a plant pot: Neural correlates of passive conceptual expansion

Conceptual expansion is a key process that underlies our ability to think creatively. In the present event-related fMRI study, a modified Alternate Uses Task was used to identify brain regions involved during passive conceptual expansion and thereby separately assess the effects of the two defining elements of creative output: Originality (unusualness) and Relevance (appropriateness). Participants viewed word pairs consisting of an object and a use and indicated whether the given use was unusual and/or appropriate for the given object. Trials with object-use combinations judged as unusual and appropriate (HUHA) were contrasted against trials judged as just unusual but inappropriate (HULA) or just appropriate but not unusual (LUHA). As hypothesized, conceptual expansion related activation (HUHA) was found in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus (BA 45, 47), left temporal pole (BA 38) and left frontopolar cortex (BA 10). We discuss the specific contributions of these regions with reference to semantic cognition.

► We employed a novel paradigm to investigate passive conceptual expansion. ► Passive conceptual expansion related activation was found in BA 45, 47, 38 and 10. ► The findings are discussed with reference to “normative” cognitive processes.