• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.409-427
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• 2010

Psychological research on the relationships between creativity and knowledge can be divided into two main streams, called tension view and foundation view. However most of the studies in this area have been too much focused on creative products which had a limit in investigating creative processes. In this study, to identify the relationships, we employed neuro-scientific approaches to investigating EEG (electroencephalogram) activity from professional computer programmers(n=10). Also the EEG alpha TRP (task related power) was compared with each other. The procedures including resting conditions with eye closed were followed by ordinary thinking process, creative thinking processes in a professional domain and a nonprofessional domain. As a result of EEG activity analysis, alpha deactivation was observed mainly in temporal lobe, especially in left-temporal lobe during creative thinking process of professional domain. The findings suggest that neuro-scientific approach supports the tension view, suggesting that the knowledge could hinder creativity.