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Abstract:
Previous research with a hemispheric model of language
processing (Atchley, Keeney, & Burgess, 1999) suggests that a
sustained bilateral tolerance for lexical ambiguity may facilitate
creative cognition. In the current research, the previous
methodology was expanded to investigate the relationship between
multiple domains of creativity (verbal and visual-spatial) as well
as the relationship between corresponding multiple domains of
cognitive ability. Participants were given the similarities subtest
from the Wallach-Kogan Creativity Battery (Wallach & Kogan,
1965), the Finke (1990) Creative Inventions Task, the analogies
subtest from the Cognitive Abilities Test (Thorndike & Hagen,
1978), and a dynamic version of the Abstract Reasoning Test
(Embretson, 1994). A cluster analysis was used to determine the
correlative relationship between the four creativity and ability
measures. Three clusters emerged (high overall, high ability/low
creativity, and low ability/high creativity) and were used to group
100 participants in comparing their performance on a task comparing
lateral processing of features of unambiguous nouns (Atchley,
Burgess, & Keeney, 1999). Group differences were found between
the three clusters. Results suggest that that both hemispheres
contribute to the maintenance of remotely associated features for
highly creative participants, while low creative participants show
reduced access to remote lexical associates.
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