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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: smart on 14/12/2016 15:03:48

Title: Is dopamine receptor density correlated to creative thinking?
Post by: smart on 14/12/2016 15:03:48

The correlation between dopamine neurotransmission and creativity is poorly understood. The pharmacological activation of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens may increase cerebral blood flow, promoting creative thinking in the frontal lobe.

Title: Re: Is dopamine receptor density correlated to creative thinking?
Post by: exothermic on 14/12/2016 15:24:20

Quote from: tkadm30 on 14/12/2016 15:03:48

may increase cerebral blood flow, promoting creative thinking in the frontal lobe.

I get increased cerebral blood flow from supplemental nitrates, but I can't say I've noticed an upregulation in creative thinking.

Title: Re: Is dopamine receptor density correlated to creative thinking?
Post by: smart on 14/12/2016 20:55:57

Here's an article on how cannabis use may increase cerebral blood flow in the frontal lobe:

Quote

Considering this, marijuana may promote creativity as it increases frontal lobe activity, primarily by increasing cerebral blood flow (CBF) to this area. In studies done at the Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico and John Hopkins University, it was found that subjects with high creative performance showed greater CBF activity in various locations in the brain associated with the frontal lobe. Cerebral blood flow is the amount of blood in the brain at any given time, and higher amounts in specific areas of the brain indicate higher activity of those areas. This is because neurons in the brain require energy when being used and they receive this energy from the glucose and oxygen supplied by blood. Experiments by Mathew and Wilson (1992) showed CBF tended to reach a maximum effect in the frontal lobe after thirty minutes of cannabis consumption. More recent research done by O’Leary et al in 2000 and 2007 confirm that marijuana increases normalized regional CBF to various parts of the frontal lobe, including the orbital frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and the insular cortex. O’Leary’s work juxtaposed to Flaherty’s observations suggests that marijuana’s role in stimulating frontal lobe activity has the correlative effect of promoting the creative drive and divergent thinking characteristic of the creative process.
https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~issues/articles/18.2_Talise_J_Marijuana_1.html

Title: Re: Does dopamine receptor densities are correlated to creative thinking?
Post by: smart on 14/12/2016 21:21:57

J Neurosci. 2002 Aug 1;22(15):6321-4.
Caffeine induces dopamine and glutamate release in the shell of the nucleus accumbens.
Solinas M1, Ferré S, You ZB, Karcz-Kubicha M, Popoli P, Goldberg SR.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12151508

My favorite method to enhance creative thinking is to mix caffeine, cannabis, and music.  :)

PLoS One. 2010; 5(5): e10670.
Published online 2010 May 17. doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0010670
PMCID: PMC2871784
Thinking Outside a Less Intact Box: Thalamic Dopamine D2 Receptor Densities Are Negatively Related to Psychometric Creativity in Healthy Individuals
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2871784/

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Jul 5; 97(14): 7673–7675.
PMCID: PMC33999
Schizophrenia: More dopamine, more D2 receptors
Philip Seeman* and Shitij Kapur†
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC33999/

So it appears schizophrenics and highly creative people have fewer dopamine D2 receptors in the thalamus.  However the last study cited is conflicting. Atypical antipsychotics may increase dopamine receptors densities, a possible causal factor in dopamine hypersensitivity.