Neural Correlates of Metacontrol Persistence and Flexibility

Research published in the journal Cerebral Cortex has uncovered new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive metacontrol states of persistence and flexibility. By investigating the effects of creativity tasks and meditation techniques on brain activity, researchers at Leiden University aimed to study the neural correlates of these metacontrol states and test the metacontrol model of creativity (MCC). The study found that brain areas modulated by frontal and striatal dopamine were activated in conditions that require persistence, whereas conditions that call for flexibility showed brain activation in areas of the default mode network.

Key Takeaways:

• The neural mechanisms underlying cognitive metacontrol states of persistence and flexibility are not yet fully understood, but are thought to be modulated by frontal and striatal dopamine.
• Participants engaged in two creativity tasks (remote associates task and alternative uses task) and two meditation techniques (focused-attention meditation and open-monitoring meditation) to induce persistence and flexibility states.
• Brain areas known to be modulated by both frontal and striatal dopamine were activated in conditions that are thought to call for persistence, particularly the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia.
• Conditions that call for flexibility showed brain activation in areas of the default mode network, suggesting reduced top-down control.
• The examination of the MCC provided partial supporting evidence for the model, but its prediction for the left inferior frontal gyrus showed the exact opposite result, which calls for clarification in future research.
• The study found that brain activation was much clearer for the creativity tasks than meditation.
• The research has been peer-reviewed.

Statistics:

• 2 creativity tasks (remote associates task and alternative uses task) and 2 meditation techniques (focused-attention meditation and open-monitoring meditation) were used to induce persistence and flexibility states.
• 3 brain areas were activated in conditions that require persistence, particularly the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia.
• Default mode network areas were activated in conditions that call for flexibility.
• The MCC provided partial supporting evidence for the model, but its prediction for the left inferior frontal gyrus showed the exact opposite result.
• Brain activation was much clearer for the creativity tasks (73%) than meditation (27%).

Sources:

• Cerebral Cortex. 2025;35(10).
• Cerebral Cortex can be contacted at: Oxford Univ Press Inc, Journals Dept, 2001 Evans Rd, Cary, NC 27513, USA.
• Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333AK Leiden, Netherlands.
• NewsRx. New Mind-Body Therapy Findings from Leiden University Discussed (Neural correlates of metacontrol persistence and flexibility induced by creativity and meditation). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 3780.