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Title: The role of semantic memory networks in crystallized intelligence and creative thinking ability
Crystallized intelligence (Gc)—knowledge acquired through education and experience—supports creativity. Yet whether Gc contributes to creativity beyond providing access to more knowledge, remains unclear. We explore the role of a “flexible” semantic memory network structure as a potential shared mechanism of Gc and creativity. Across two studies (N = 506 and N = 161) participants completed Gc tests of vocabulary knowledge and were divided into low, medium, and high Gc groups. They also completed two alternate uses tasks, to assess verbal creativity, and a semantic fluency task, to estimate semantic memory networks. Across both studies, the semantic memory network structure of the high Gc group was more flexible—less structured, more clustered, and more interconnected—than that of the low Gc group. The high Gc group also outperformed the low Gc group on the creativity tasks. Our results suggest that flexible access to semantic memory supports both verbal intelligence and creativity.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1920653 2155070
PAR ID:
10525801
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Elsevier
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Learning and Individual Differences
Volume:
111
Issue:
C
ISSN:
1041-6080
Page Range / eLocation ID:
102426
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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