Dynamic cycles between idea generation and evaluation during creative storytelling

Abstract Many theories support the notion that creative thinking involves a dynamic transition between idea generation and evaluation, but there is limited evidence of how these two stages interact. The dual process model proposes that spontaneous thinking and deliberate thinking drive these stages and the transitions between them, but there is a debate over whether they operate in parallel or in sequence. To address these gaps, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in 41 college students during a creative storytelling task. By analyzing the dynamic brain state, we link the brain states with idea generation and evaluation. The transition patterns between brain states provide evidence for dynamic circulation between idea generation and evaluation during creative storytelling. Using a deep learning approach, we demonstrate an alternating interaction between spontaneous and deliberate thinking, driving the idea generation and evaluation stages and the transitions between them. These findings deepen our understanding of the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying creative thinking.