Default Mode Network (DMN)
The DMN is in charge of 'spontaneous thinking' or spontaneous flow of thought and emotion. While originally thought to have worked in opposition of EF networks, during acts of creativity research has shown that the two areas work together, with the EF network monitoring the spontaneous thought of the DMN.
De Pisapia et al., 2016; Raichle 2015
Default Mode Network Brain Structures
The DMN is found in the ventral medial PFC, the dorsal medial PFC, the posterior cingulate cortex and adjacent precuneus, and the lateral parietal cortex (De Pisapia et al., 2016; Raichle, 2015).
Default Mode Network & Creativity
De Pisapia (2016) defines creativity as "the process of generating novel and worthwhile ideas or objects" (p. 1).
Creativity reduces competition between the EF networks and the DMN, which allows for divergent thinking (Beaty et al., 2014; De Pisapia, 2016). Rather than working in competition, the EF networks seem to supervise the DMN, encouraging spontaneous thinking while funnelling the creativity into actionable steps.
References
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Beaty, R. E., Holling, H., Silvia, P. J., & Schacter, D. L. (2016). Creative Cognition and Brain Network Dynamics. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20(2), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2015.10.004
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De Pisapia, N., Bacci, F., Parrott, D., & Melcher, D. (2016). Brain networks for visual creativity: A functional connectivity study of planning a visual artwork. Scientific Reports, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep39185
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Eisner, E. W. (2003). The arts and the creation of mind. Choice Reviews Online, 40(08), 40–4405. https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.40-4405
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Raichle, M. E. (2015). The Brain’s Default Mode Network. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 38(1), 433–447. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-071013-014030