The Function of Posterior Middle Temporal Gyrus in Conceptual Expansion

Conceptual expansion, referred to as the expansion of existing conceptual structures and the generation of new concepts, is a key cognitive component of creative ideation in human beings. However, the specific brain regions associated with the process of conceptual expansion remain unclear, particularly in the field of divergent thinking. In the present study, we examined neural correlates of conceptual expansion in the alternate uses task (AUT). Specifically, during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning, participants were asked to process a set of creative AUT ideas, each consisting of a common object and a corresponding alternate use, and then in the post-scan phase, they were required to evaluate the degree of conceptual expansion for each AUT idea (i.e., compared with the familiar concept, the extent to which the AUT idea could expand the conceptual boundaries of the object). By linking the behavioral assessments with brain activation, the results showed that greater engagement of the posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG) was involved in the processing of creative AUT ideas with higher conceptual expansion, which aligns with previous findings from other creative domains such as insight problem solving and creative product design. Given the recognized function of the pMTG in conceptual processing, our findings indicate that the pMTG may specifically support the forming of new conceptual categories in AUT.