Divergent and Convergent Thinking Abilities in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is considered as one of the common and disabling symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this regard, creativity is a complex construct that is benefited from applying a more comprehensive mechanistic approach. Moreover, creativity can be affected in MS patients, and two processes have been defined as central to creative cognition as follows: divergent and convergent thinking styles. In the present study, we investigated these two processes through alternate use task, and the remote associate test, as the two components of creativity. Method: The population of this study included those patients with relapsing-remitting MS and healthy individuals who were matched with the included patients in terms of age, gender, and education. Divergent and convergent thinking abilities in MS patients were evaluated using Alternate Uses Task (AUT) and Remote Association Task (RAT), respectively. The two variables of divergent and convergent thinking were statistically analyzed using MANCOVA and ANCOVA techniques, respectively. Results: In regard to divergent thinking after controlling the effect of education, the results show that MS patients had lower fluency and flexibility compared to healthy subjects; however, no significant difference was found in terms of originality and elaboration. The convergent thinking ability also reduced in MS patients compared with the healthy individuals. Conclusion: Both divergent and convergent thinking abilities reduced in MS patients, and the mechanisms causing other cognitive impairment may have possibly caused this decline. A future study is needed to confirm these possible mechanisms.