Fig. 5: General organizational and mechanistic principles associated with brain age gaps (BAGs) in creative experiences.

a Using M/EEG functional connectivity, we characterized two efficiency-based properties of brain topology, namely integration, related to general information processing, and segregation, ascribed to specialized information processing. We then used a generative model of EEG activity to test mechanisms based on global coupling modulation. b Efficiency metrics and modeling parameters in the expertise design (tango dancers, musicians, visual artists, and gaming). We reported significant correlations between BAGs and global efficiency (r = −0.247, p < 0.001, N = 195 participants, Cohen’s f ² = 0.065), local efficiency (r = −0.479, p < 0.001, N = 195 participants, Cohen’s f ² = 0.298), and global coupling (r = −0.351, p < 0.001, N = 195 participants, Cohen’s f ² = 0.105). c Efficiency metrics and modeling parameters in the pre/post-learning design. We reported significant correlations between BAGs and local efficiency (r = −0.490, p = 0.023, N = 24 participants, Cohen’s f ² = 0.316), but not with either global efficiency (r = 0.351, p = 0.111, N = 24 participants, Cohen’s f ² = 0.141), or global coupling (r = −0.148, p = 0.492, N = 24 participants, Cohen’s f ² = 0.022). Points in scatter plots represent participants. FDR-corrected p-values.