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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Cognitive Science
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1400328

Meta-analysis of fMRI studies related to mathematical creativity

Provisionally accepted
Sungyeun Kim Sungyeun Kim 1*Qingqing Li Qingqing Li 2
  • 1 Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
  • 2 Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This study presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of fMRI data to explore the neural correlates of mathematical creativity, a vital competence in mathematics education. Utilizing Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) and Meta-Analytic Connectivity Modeling (MACM) techniques, we analyzed studies published up to 2022 to identify brain regions activated during mathematical and creative tasks. The findings reveal significant activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) during both mathematical and creative tasks, emphasizing their roles in idea generation, working memory, and executive control. The MACM analysis further highlights the importance of the frontoparietal network, a key player in cognitive control, for mathematical creativity. This network's involvement in attention, working memory, and goal orientation aligns with the demands of mathematical problem-solving. Our results offer valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying mathematical creativity, providing a foundation for developing targeted educational strategies to enhance this crucial competence in learners.

    Keywords: creativity, fMRI, Mathematics, Mathematical creativity, Meta-analysis

    Received: 15 Mar 2024; Accepted: 16 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Kim and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Sungyeun Kim, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.