Neural efficiency in creative decision-making: A sparse directed subnetwork in soccer experts revealed by fMRI

=0.0013). Across players, higher SVT scores predicted higher convergent fan-in motif counts (021U) (β=0.35 to 0.40; p=0.006 to 0.016; q≤0.047) and lower description length (β=-0.32 to -0.37;p=0.014 to 0.035; q≤0.047). Collectively, these findings demonstrate previously unresolved directed reweighting of local motifs and mesoscale organization during creative continuation, and provide a framework for mechanistic tests of creative expertise in real-world decisions.