Research

Creative cognition is viewed as specific configuration of ordinary cognitive processes:

Memory: How do we build on knowledge and go beyond what we know to create something new?

Attention: How do we manage attention to internal versus sensory content during imagination?

Cognitive control: How do we balance controlled and spontanous processes in creative thought?

Relevant work:

• Benedek, M., & Fink, A. (2019). Toward a neurocognitive framework of creative cognition: The role of memory, attention, and cognitive control. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 27, 116-122. 
• Lebuda, I., & Benedek, M. (2023). A systematic framework of creative metacognition. Physics of Life Reviews, 46, 161-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plrev.2023.07.002 
• Benedek, M., Beaty, R. E., Schacter, D. L., Kenett, Y. N. (2023). The role of memory in creative ideation. Nature Reviews Psychology, 2(4), 246-257. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-023-00158-z 
• Benedek, M. (2018). Internally directed attention in creative cognition. In R. E. Jung & O. Vartanian (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of the neuroscience of creativity (pp. 180-194). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Benedek, M. & Jauk, E. (2019). Creativity and cognitive control. In J. Kaufman & R. Sternberg (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of creativity (pp. 200-223). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781316979839.012

We use various neurophysiological methods to study the neural mechanisms underlying creative cognition and creativity including  MRI, EEG, eye-tracking etc.

Relevant work:

• Annerer-Walcher, S., Ceh, S. M., Putze, F., Kampen, M., & Körner, C. Benedek, M. (2021). How reliably do eye parameters indicate internal vs. external attentional focus? Cognitive Science, 45, e12977. https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.12977
• Beaty, R.E., Kenett, Y.N., Christensen, A.P., Rosenberg, M.D., Benedek, M., Chen, Q., Fink, A., Qiu, J., Kwapil, T., Kane, M.J., & Silvia, P.J. (2018). Robust prediction of individual creative ability from brain functional connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 115, 1087-1092. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1713532115
• Beaty, R.E., Benedek, M., Silvia, P.J., & Schacter, D.L. (2016). Creative cognition and brain network dynamics. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20, 87-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2015.10.004 
• Fink, A., & Benedek, M. (2014). EEG alpha power and creative ideation. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 44, 111-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2012.12.002 
• Ovando-Tellez, M., Kenett, Y., N., Benedek, M., Bernard, M., Belo, J., Beranger, B., Bieth, T.  & Volle, E. (2022). Brain connectivity-based prediction of real-life creativity is mediated by semantic memory structure. Science Advances, 8(5), eabl4294. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abl4294

We study how to measure individual differences at the level of creative potential and creative achievement.

Relevant work:

• Benedek, M., Christensen, A. P., Fink, A., & Beaty, R. E. (2019). Creativity assessment in neuroscience research. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 13, 218-226. doi: 10.1037/aca0000215
• Benedek, M., Nordtvedt, N., Jauk, E., Koschmieder, C., Pretsch, J., Krammer, G., & Neubauer, A.C. (2016). Assessment of creativity evaluation skills: A psychometric investigation in prospective teachers. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 21, 75-84. doi: 10.1016/j.tsc.2016.05.007
• Diedrich, J., Jauk, E., Silvia, P.J., Gredlein, J.M., Neubauer, A.C., & Benedek, M. (2018). Assessment of real-life creativity: The Inventory of Creative Activities and Achievements (ICAA). Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 12, 304-316. doi: 10.1037/aca0000137

• Patterson, J. D. et al. (in press). Multilingual semantic distance: Automatic verbal creativity assessment in many languages. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.

• Primi, R., Silvia, P. J., Jauk, E., & Benedek, M. (2019). Applying many-facet Rasch modeling in the assessment of creativity. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 13, 176-186. doi: 10.1037/aca0000230

We investigate the relationship between relevant traits including creativity, intelligence, and personality, and motivation.

Relevant work:

• Benedek, M., Jauk, E., Sommer, M., Arendasy, M., & Neubauer, A.C. (2014). Intelligence, creativity, and cognitive control: The common and differential involvement of executive functions in intelligence and creativity. Intelligence, 46, 73-83. doi: 10.1016/j.intell.2014.05.007 
• Benedek, M., Bruckdorfer, R., & Jauk, E. (2020). Motives for creativity: Exploring the what and why of everyday creativity. Journal of Creative Behavior, 54(3), 610-625. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.396 
• Gerwig, A., Miroshnik, K., Forthmann, B., Benedek, M., Karwowski, M., & Holling H. (2021). The relationship between intelligence and divergent thinking – A meta-analytic update. Journal of Intelligence, 9(2), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence9020023
• Jauk, E., Benedek, M., & Neubauer, A. C. (2014). The road to creative achievement: A latent variable model of ability and personality predictors. European Journal of Personality, 28, 95-105. doi:10.1002/per.1941
• Miroshnik, K., Forthmann, B., Karwowski, M., & Benedek, M. (2023). The relationship of divergent thinking with broad retrieval ability and processing speed: A meta-analysis. Intelligence, 98, 101739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2023.101739