EEG Alpha Asymmetry and Lateral Characteristics of Verbal Memory as a Useful Tool to Investigate Creative Capacity of the Aging Brain

Cognitive training and rich environment are thought to contribute to high creativity in the elderly. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying association between cognitive training and creativity is poorly understood. It has been reasoned that in young adults right cortex is more engaged in creative ideation. At the same time, right hemisphere is shown to be more affected by aging than left one. There are some reasons, that mental stimulation is effective in maintaining of functional productivity of the aging left hemisphere. We tested if index of EEG alpha asymmetry during divergent thinking and lateral characteristics of verbal memory may be considered as indicator of creative productivity in the elderly. 84 elderly mentally healthy adults participated in the study (43 were engaged in professional scientific activity). Laterality of verbal memory was assessed by dichotic test. EEG data were recorded while subjects were engaged in verbal divergent thinking test. ANOVA, regression and correlation analysis were used. Interhemispheric asymmetry in task-related alpha desynchronization with larger values in the right hemisphere was associated with the strength of right hemispheric strategies of verbal memory. This effect was related to low creative originality in elderly engaged in professional scientific activity. The results suggest that life-long mental stimulation could be responsible for additional involvement of the left-hemispheric strategies to enhance creative efficiency in the elderly. The study showed that the combination of psychometric and EEG methods of interhemispheric asymmetry assessment is a functional approach for objective investigation of creative capacity of the aging brain.