ISSN 0439-755X
CN 11-1911/B
主办:中国心理学会
   中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (6): 1090-1112.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.1090 cstr: 32110.14.2026.1090

• 研究报告 • 上一篇    下一篇

不同类型心智游移对创造性思维的差异化预测及其神经机制

李亚丹1, 谢聪2, 张姬毓1, 苏佳豪1   

  1. 1陕西师范大学现代教学技术教育部重点实验室, 西安 710062;
    2华东师范大学心理与认知科学学院, 上海 200062
  • 收稿日期:2025-04-10 发布日期:2026-04-28 出版日期:2026-06-25
  • 通讯作者: 李亚丹,E-mail:liyadan@snnu.edu.cn
  • 作者简介:李亚丹和谢聪为本文共同第一作者。
  • 基金资助:
    陕西省自然科学基础研究计划一般项目(2025JC-YBMS-208)、陕西省社会科学基金年度项目(2024P004)、陕西省三秦英才特殊支持计划创新创业团队项目、中央高校基本科研业务费科技领军创新团队培育项目(GK202502005)和中央高校基本科研业务项目(2023BFXM005)资助

Differential predictions of various types of mind-wandering on creative thinking and the underlying neural mechanisms

LI Yadan1, XIE Cong2, ZHANG Jiyu1, SU Jiahao1   

  1. 1MOE Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China;
    2The School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
  • Received:2025-04-10 Online:2026-04-28 Published:2026-06-25

摘要: 心智游移(mind-wandering, MW)与创造性思维的关系复杂。然而, 以往研究仅将心智游移视为单一结构进行探讨, 忽视了其异质性, 导致研究结论存在分歧。本研究采用功能性近红外光谱脑成像技术(functional near-infrared spectroscopy, fNIRS), 通过两个实验, 分别从特质和状态层面探讨不同类型的心智游移对创造性思维的预测作用及其神经机制。结果发现, 在静息态下, 积极-建设型心智游移(positive-constructive daydreaming, PCD)分别在双侧颞上回之间的功能连接对创造性观点产生的正向预测、额极与左颞中回之间的功能连接对创造性观点产生的负向预测、左背外侧前额叶与右额下回之间的功能连接对创造性观点评价的正向预测中发挥了中介作用(实验1)。在任务态下, 相比于有意的心智游移(deliberate MW), 任务相关的心智游移(task-related MW)对创造性思维的预测权重更大, 且能够负向预测创造性任务期间左额下回与左缘上回之间的静态功能连接、双侧额下回之间的静态功能连接, 并正向预测右背外侧前额叶与右额下回之间的动态功能连接(实验2)。上述结果表明, 特定类型的心智游移能正向预测创造性思维, 为正确理解心智游移的适应性作用和阐明创造性思维形成的潜在路径提供了新启示。

关键词: 创造性思维, 心智游移, 积极-建设型心智游移, 任务相关的心智游移, 功能性近红外光谱脑成像技术

Abstract: Mind-wandering (MW), a prevalent mental experience, has been linked to creative thinking, but empirical findings remain inconsistent. Some research suggests that mind-wandering can enhance creative thinking, while other studies show no significant relationship. This inconsistency may arise from treating mind-wandering as a unitary construct, neglecting its heterogeneous nature. To address this gap, the present study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the distinct relationships between different types of mind-wandering and creative thinking, alongside their underlying neural correlates, at both trait and state levels.
In Experiment 1 (trait level), resting-state brain activity was recorded via fNIRS. Participants completed the Generation and Selection Questionnaire (GSQ) to assess creative thinking at the trait level and the Short Imaginal Processes Inventory (SIPI) to measure positive-constructive daydreaming (PCD) and guilty-dysphoric daydreaming (GDD). Results showed that PCD mediated three distinct pathways: the positive relationship between functional connectivity of the bilateral superior temporal gyri and creative idea generation, the negative relationship between functional connectivity of the frontal pole and left middle temporal gyrus and creative idea generation, and the positive relationship between functional connectivity of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right inferior frontal gyrus and creative idea selection.
Experiment 2 (state level) employed a creative incubation paradigm. Brain activity was recorded during an Alternative Uses Task (AUT). The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) served as the incubation period, during which thought probes assessed deliberate (MW-d), spontaneous (MW-s), task-related (MW-r) and task-unrelated (MW-u) mind-wandering. The findings revealed that MW-r was significantly associated with higher post-incubation AUT originality, whereas MW-u showed no such association. At the neural level, MW-r was linked to decreased functional connectivity between the left inferior frontal gyrus and left supramarginal gyrus, as well as between bilateral inferior frontal gyri, and to increased dynamic functional connectivity between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right inferior frontal gyrus.
These findings elucidate the specific types of mind-wandering that are associated with creative thinking, providing a multi-level neural account that helps resolve previous contradictory findings and deepens our understanding of the adaptive potential of mind-wandering.

Key words: mind-wandering, creative thinking, positive-constructive daydreaming, task-related mind-wandering, fNIRS