On semantic structures and processes in creative thinking.

Kounios and Oh [ 1. Kounios J. Oh Y. Creativity and semantic memory: the answers are upstream. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2023; (in press) Google Scholar ] offer a perspective on our recent review on the role of associative processes in creativity [ 2. Beaty R.E. Kenett Y.N. Associative thinking at the core of creativity. Trends Cogn. Sci. 2023; 27: 671-683 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar ], highlighting potential theoretical considerations surrounding semantic memory structure. Kounios and Oh critique network-based approaches to analyzing semantic memory structure that rely, in their view, on behavioral tasks ‘downstream’ from the original source of semantic representation. Instead, they advocate for ‘upstream’ processes of semantic activation via electrophysiological methods (the N400 component).