Oxytocin enhances creativity specifically in approach-motivated individuals.

Abstract

Oxytocin, a neuropeptide pivotal in social and reproductive behaviors, has recently gained attention for its potential impact on cognitive processes relevant to creativity. Yet, the direct intricate interplay between oxytocin and creativity, particularly in the context of individual differences in motivational orientations, remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin on creative thinking in individuals characterized by varying levels of approach and avoidance motivations. The initial study, involving participants with high approach or avoidance motivation, employed the Alternative Uses Task (AUT) to assess creativity under oxytocin administration. Subsequently, the second study induced different motivational states through a recall task, aiming to validate and extend observed effects. Results revealed a significant enhancement of creativity in individuals with approach motivation following oxytocin administration, while no parallel effect was discerned in those with avoidance motivation. Aligning with behavioral findings, functional connectivity and graph theory analyses of neural data illuminated the coordinated effects of oxytocin on creativity-related neural networks. These outcomes collectively suggest that oxytocin exerts a dissociable influence on creativity contingent upon an individual's motivational tendencies, providing insights into the intricate relationship between oxytocin and human creative behavior.