Right inferior frontal gyrus gray matter density mediates the effect of tolerance of ambiguity on scientific problem finding

Problem finding (PF) is a crucial element of creative thinking. PF facility allows us to manage the rapidly changing world. Tolerance of ambiguity (AT) is a personality variable that plays a vital role in creative thinking. However, few studies have explored PF’s brain mechanisms and their relationship with AT. This study aimed to filled this gap using behavioral and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) methods. The behavioral results revealed a significant positive correlation between AT and PF. The VBM analysis found that novel PF positively correlated with the cluster’s regional gray matter density (GMD) involving the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and precentral cortex. Additionally, novel and appropriate PF was positively correlated with the GMD of the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and regional white matter density (WMD) of the bilateral thalamus. Further mediation analysis revealed that the rGMD of the right IFG mediated the relation between AT and PF, which showed that the right IFG is associated with inhibitory control and novelty-seeking. Individuals with high AT and regional GMD in right IFG had a greater novel and appropriate PF ability. These findings shed light on the correlation between AT and PF from the brain’s structural basis perspective.