Brains of Entrepreneurs are Wired Differently, Scientists Claim

A groundbreaking research project carried out by a team of experts from HEC – School of Management at the University of Liège and Liège University Hospital (CHU Liège) has revealed intriguing findings about the brains of entrepreneurs.

The study brought together researchers studying entrepreneurship and experts in neuroscience. The outcome of the study suggests that entrepreneurs have stronger connections among brain cells, which could be linked to their unique ways of thinking.

Using a technique called resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), the research used images of brain activity while at rest.

“This study represents an important advance in our understanding of the entrepreneurial mind,” says Frédéric Ooms, a researcher and assistant professor specializing in management and entrepreneurship at HEC – ULiège School of Management. He is also the lead author of this publication.

Results of the findings

The findings indicated that people who start multiple businesses, known as serial entrepreneurs, have stronger connections between two important parts of the brain: the right insula, linked to flexible thinking, and the anterior prefrontal cortex, a key area for making new choices.

In comparison, these connections were not as strong in managers who don’t engage in serial entrepreneurship.

The results of this study, which were published in the journal Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, suggest that serial entrepreneurs have a special ability to think flexibly. This allows them to effectively switch between exploring new ideas and making the most of existing opportunities, a balance that’s important for their success.

What is rs-fMRI?

Unlike the usual fMRI method that involves giving tasks to the participants, the rs-fMRI utilized in this study looks at the brain while at rest. This means there are no specific tasks or things shown to the participants during the scan. This unique approach helps us better understand how entrepreneurs think.

It highlights the difference in cognitive flexibility and offers a fresh angle for shaping training and professional development programs. These programs could aim to enhance both cognitive flexibility and the entrepreneurial mindset among individuals in different organizations.

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Frédéric Ooms based these insights on the outcomes of his Ph.D. thesis, which he presented in April 2023, focusing on entrepreneurial cognitive flexibility.

“In a world of rapid and unpredictable change, organizations need to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and foster cognitive flexibility within their teams, qualities recognized by the OECD as a 21st-century challenge,” highlights Professor Bernard Surlemont. He is a renowned expert in Entrepreneurship at ULiège (HEC Liège).

“This collaborative, multidisciplinary study illustrates ‘neuro-entrepreneurship,’ the integration of knowledge in neuroscience (at the ULiège GIGA and the CHU of Liège) and the world of entrepreneurship (HEC Liège), and shows how neuroimaging techniques help to better visualize the neural networks involved in ‘cognitive flexibility,’ to be able to adapt to a constantly changing reality, which is the source of entrepreneurial success,” comments Dr. Steven Laureys, who is a neurologist and Clinical Professor at the Centre du Cerveau of the University Hospital (CHU) of Liège.