Frontiers in Psychology (Jul 2015)

The associations among the dopamine D2 receptor Taq1, emotional intelligence, creative potential measured by divergent thinking, and motivational state and these associations’ sex differences

  • Hikaru eTakeuchi,
  • Hiroaki eTomita,
  • Yasuyuki eTaki,
  • Yoshie eKikuchi,
  • Chiaki eOno,
  • Zhiqian eYu,
  • Atsushi eSekiguchi,
  • Rui eNouchi,
  • Yuka eKotozaki,
  • Seishu eNakagawa,
  • Carlos Makoto Miyauchi,
  • Kunio eIizuka,
  • Ryoichi eYokoyama,
  • Takamitsu eShinada,
  • Yuki eYamamoto,
  • Sugiko eHanawa,
  • Tsuyoshi eAraki,
  • Hiroshi eHashizume,
  • Keiko eKunitoki,
  • Yuko eSassa,
  • Ryuta eKawashima

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00912
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6

Abstract

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Previous neuroscientific studies have shown that the dopaminergic system plays an important role in creativity potential measured by divergent thinking (CPMDT), emotional control, and motivational state. However, although associations between two of these four components have been previously established (e.g., the association between CPMDT and emotional control, the association between CPMDT and motivational state, etc.), the interactions between these four remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to reveal these interactions using path analyses. The Taq1A polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene was used for this purpose. For measuring emotional intelligence (EI), we used the Japanese version of the Emotional Intelligence Scale. CPMDT was measured using the S-A creativity test. Motivational state was measured using the Vigor subscale of the Japanese version of the Profile of Mood Scale (POMS). Data from 766 healthy, right-handed individuals (426 men and 340 women; 20.7 ± 1.9 years of age) were used in this study. There were significant and robust positive relationships among measures of CPMDT, EI, and motivational state across sex. In addition, the polymorphism of the DRD2 gene was significantly associated with EI, specifically in females. Path analysis in females indicates that the model in which (a) the DRD2 polymorphism primarily facilitates EI, (b) EI in turn facilitates CPMDT and leads to a better motivational state, and (c) a better motivational state also directly facilitates CPMDT explains the data in the most accurate manner. This study suggested a comprehensive picture of the cascade of the associations among dopamine, EI, motivational state, and CPMDT at least in females.

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