What kind of brain strengthens the entrepreneurial creativity–intention link? Evidence from frontal alpha asymmetry

Abstract Small business creation and self-employment depend critically on individuals’ motivation to pursue entrepreneurial entry under uncertainty. While prior research consistently shows that entrepreneurial creativity enhances entrepreneurial intention, substantial heterogeneity remains among creative individuals in their willingness to pursue small business entry. To address this gap, drawing on expectancy theory, we propose that entrepreneurial creativity primarily strengthens perceived feasibility, but that the translation of feasibility into intention depends on individuals’ affective–motivational readiness to act. We operationalize this readiness using frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA)—a resting-state neurophysiological index of relative left–right frontal cortical activity associated with approach-related affective tendencies. We conceptualize FAA as a dispositional boundary condition, rather than a driver of entrepreneurial intention. Using a multi-method design that combines validated self-report measures with resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), we test a moderation model in which FAA conditions the relationship between entrepreneurial creativity and entrepreneurial intention. Results indicate that entrepreneurial creativity is positively associated with entrepreneurial intention, and that this relationship is stronger among individuals exhibiting higher FAA. By identifying an affective–motivational boundary condition, this study advances micro-level explanations of entrepreneurial entry motivation and helps explain why some creative individuals pursue small business entry while others do not. The findings contribute to research on entrepreneurial decision-making under uncertainty and demonstrate how neuroscience-informed measures can complement traditional approaches in small business economics.