Creativity and Cognitive Abilities: How Are They Related?

Abstract

Research has explored creativity, intelligence, and executive function; however, the potential relationship among all three constructs is limited by inconsistencies in measurement and methodological strategies. Fifty-three college students at Middle Tennessee State University completed an abbreviated intelligence test, a creativity task, and three measures of executive function. Linear regression and PROCESS moderation models were utilized to analyze participant data. Results demonstrated that creativity was significantly positively correlated with abbreviated intelligence, specifically fluid intelligence, and two measures of executive function, updating and inhibition. Interactions between intelligence and shifting, as well as crystallized intelligence and updating, significantly predicted creativity. The strength of these associations, however, differed based on the variation of scores on measures of executive function and intelligence. Thus, different patterns of scores on measures of executive function and intelligence may modulate the relationship between all three constructs when analyzed simultaneously. Keywords: creativity, executive function, intelligence.