Awe proneness links RSA and trait creativity in dyslexia

Abstract

The parasympathetic nervous system promotes positive emotions, such as awe, that foster creativity. Resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, a parasympathetic measure of heart rate variability, is elevated in children with dyslexia, but whether this enhancement is associated with greater trait-level creativity and higher awe proneness is unknown. Here, we measured resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in 70 children with dyslexia (ages 7 – 16), and parents later reported on the children’s trait creativity and tendency to experience positive emotions (mean interval between measures = 1.5 years). Results indicated that higher resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia was associated with greater trait creativity as well as a greater proclivity for awe and amusement. A greater proclivity for awe and amusement was also related to greater creativity. Mediation analyses confirmed that awe, but not amusement, fully mediated the relationship between resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia and creativity. These findings suggest that elevated parasympathetic nervous system activity in children with dyslexia may relate to greater trait creativity via awe, an emotion that fosters a sense of wonder about the world. By expanding current knowledge of the physiological and emotional foundations of creativity in dyslexia, this study may inspire new interventions that leverage awe to help children with learning differences think in original ways.