The relation between semantic memory structure, associative abilities, and verbal and figural creativity

Abstract

Research has independently highlighted the roles of semantic memory and associative abilities in creative thinking. However, it remains unclear how these two capacities relate to each other, nor how they facilitate different creative thinking modalities, such as verbal and figural creativity. This study employed multiple cognitive tests and network science methodologies to shed light on the relationship between them. We constructed individual-based semantic networks and assessed associative abilities, verbal and figural creative thinking. In line with previous studies, we found a relation between verbal creativity and more flexible semantic memory structure (higher connectivity, shorter distances between concepts, and lower modularity). However, we did not find any such relation between figural creativity and semantic memory structure. Associative abilities mediated the relationship between semantic memory structure and verbal creativity, implying the efficient spread of information in semantic memory may facilitate verbal creative thinking via associative abilities. These findings support and extend the associative theory of creativity and shed novel light on the relationship between semantic memory structure, associative abilities, and creativity.

Keywords:

• Creativity
• divergent thinking
• semantic memory structure
• free associations
• word2vec
• network science

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Innovative Research Project for Postgraduate Student of Chongqing (CYB20081), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771231), Chang Jiang Scholars Program (Q2017173), Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0520), Social Science Planning Project of Chongqing (2018PY80) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (SWU119007), National Outstanding Young People Plan, Chongqing Talent Program.