Brain correlates of self-rated originality of ideas: Evidence from event-related power and phase-locking changes in the EEG

In the present study, we contrast oscillatory brain activity during the production of subjectively more versus less original ideas. A sample of 26 participants worked on two verbal creativity problems and subsequently rated the produced ideas with respect to their originality. On the basis of these self-ratings, ideas were divided into a more and a less original list within each participant. Cortical activity was assessed by means of event-related changes in EEG power (synchronization and desynchronization) and phase locking in two alpha bands. Analyses revealed that more, as compared with less, original ideas elicited a stronger event-related synchronization of alpha activity (power increases from the pre-stimulus reference to the activation interval) and higher phase coupling in the right hemisphere. These findings corroborate the importance of right-hemispheric cortical networks in creative idea generation.