Fig. 6. Serial mediation model 1. Serial mediation analysis of
cortisol levels and cognitive flexibility performance on the association
between stress and creative performance. The dotted line represents the
non-significant path coefficients. *p< .05, ***p < .001.
The second serial mediation model examined whether stress-related
dopaminergic system activation could influence creativity by mediating
cognitive flexibility. Hence, the serial mediation model was tested with
Group (stress or control) as the independent variables, EBR AUCi (Ocular
1 to 3) as the first mediating variable, the change in perseverative
errors (the post-WCST score minus pre-WCST score) as the second
mediating variable and the variations of creative task performance
(changes in fluency, flexibility, and originality of the AUT) as
dependent variables. The analysis indicated that the indirect effect of
cognitive flexibility was significant (parametera2 × b2 = 0.492, [0.014,
1.116]), suggesting mediation by cognitive flexibility (see Figure 7).
A significant effect of stress on creativity via dopaminergic system
activation and cognitive flexibility was also discovered (parametera1 × d × b2 = 0.191, [0.048,
0.526]), consistent with a serial mediation through DA activity
followed by cognitive flexibility.