# Near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy reveals task-induced emotions by measuring cerebral blood oxygenation changes in the frontal pole during creative activity using a real object

## TL;DR

This study shows that creative tasks increase blood oxygen in the frontal pole, linking it to positive emotions, using a non-invasive brain imaging technique.

## Contribution

The study introduces the use of NIR-TRS to measure cerebral blood oxygenation changes linked to emotions during creative activities.

## Key findings

- Oxy-Hb concentrations in the frontal pole increased significantly during and after creative tasks.
- Positive emotions during creative tasks correlated with increased Oxy-Hb levels.
- Autonomic function indices were inversely correlated with Oxy-Hb changes during creative tasks.

## Abstract

Creative activities trigger enjoyable feelings, induce motivation, and are applied in clinical settings such as rehabilitation. Emotion and creativity are interrelated because they depend on a common neural network, with the prefrontal cortex playing a crucial role in both. Emotions affect creative thinking, and creative activities elicit emotions. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides a real-time assessment of emotion generated in a natural setting. Furthermore, near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (NIR-TRS) can measure brain activity that is less susceptible to extracerebral tissue. We measured oxyhemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentrations in the frontal pole, which is involved in emotion processing using NIR-TRS during creative and simple tasks utilizing real objects. Oxy-Hb concentrations in the frontal pole significantly increased during and after the creative task compared with the simple task. The autonomic function indices (heart rate and stress indices) were inversely correlated with the Oxy-Hb increase associated with the creative task performance, indicating that sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity did not cause this Oxy-Hb increase. A subjective survey revealed that positive emotions during the creative activity were significantly higher and correlated well with the increased Oxy-Hb level, indicating an increased frontal pole activity because of the enjoyability of the creative task. Our results indicate that NIR-TRS imaging can be employed for noninvasively measuring cerebral blood oxygenation changes in participants who experience various emotions during creative activities.

•NIR-TRS reveals greater Oxy-Hb increase during and after creative task.•Autonomic function indices are inversely correlated to Oxy-Hb change.•Creative task evokes greater positive emotions than simple task.•After creative task Oxy-Hb increase is attributed to relaxed and positive emotions.•NIR-TRS can assess emotional states during creative activities.

NIR-TRS reveals greater Oxy-Hb increase during and after creative task.

Autonomic function indices are inversely correlated to Oxy-Hb change.

Creative task evokes greater positive emotions than simple task.

After creative task Oxy-Hb increase is attributed to relaxed and positive emotions.

NIR-TRS can assess emotional states during creative activities.