EEG-data of Creative Thinking using Alternate Uses Task

EEG-data of Creative Thinking using Alternate Uses Task consisted of 140 subjects  had a mean age of 20.65 ± 1.86 years.The alternative uses task (AUT) examines the ability of subjects to come up with as many novel and practical uses for common objects in their lives as possible within a given time frame (Guilford, 1967).During EEG recording, stimuli were presented using E-Prime 2.0 as participants completed the Chinese Alternative Uses Test (AUT), generating creative uses for everyday objects (e.g., “brick”). To prevent speech-related artifacts from contaminating neural data, verbal responses were recorded only after the EEG epoch; participants first viewed an object name for 22,000 ms during which they silently brainstormed as many creative uses as possible. Subsequently, they were given 1,500 ms to identify their most creative idea, followed by a verbal response period. Fifteen trials were divided into three blocks with self-paced rests. Three trained raters scored response originality (1-5 scale) using the consensus assessment technique.The EEG data were continuously recorded and digitized at 1000 Hz using a  64 channel Ag/AgCl active electrode system connected to a polyester elastic head- cap (EasyCap64, Brain Products, Munich, Germany). The electrodes were positioned in accordance with the international 10- 10 system. The horizontal electrooculogram (EOG) was recorded from electrodes placed at the outer canthi of the eyes (F9 and F10). The vertical EOG was recorded from an electrode beneath the left eye (VEOG; positioned at the same distance from the center of the eye as the Fp1 electrode), in order to detect blinks and vertical eye movements. The electrode signals were amplified using a Brain Products ActiCHamp system (Brain Products, Munich, Germany) with a 0.1- to 100- Hz bandpass filter. During data acquisition, all electrodes were referenced to FCz and re- referenced offline to averaged mastoids. All electrode impedances were maintained at <10 kΩ through conductive gel.