During jazz improvisation, a flow state is linked to reduced frontal brain activity (transient hypofrontality) and, in highly experienced musicians, less activity in the default-mode network's posterior nodes. Less experienced musicians show no such modulation. The findings suggest creative flow reflects optimized, domain-specific processing from extensive practice, paired with diminished cognitive control, rather than broad engagement of task-positive networks.
People high in transliminality—a trait linked to magical thinking, paranormal belief, and creativity—show distinct patterns of resting brain activity compared to those low in transliminality. High-transliminality individuals had lower alpha, beta, and gamma power over the left posterior association cortex and lower high alpha, low beta, and gamma power over the right superior temporal region, but greater gamma power over the frontal-midline region. These differences align with patterns seen in schizotypy and schizophrenia spectrum disorders, supporting theories that altered brain asymmetries may predispose people to unusual experiences and beliefs.