Serial entrepreneurs' brains function differently, enhancing cognitive abilities, Belgian study reveals

The brains of these "serial entrepreneurs," a term used in the United States to describe individuals with several businesses under their belt, function differently than the brains of average individuals. This insight was presented by a research team led by the HEC School of Management at the University of Liège and the University Hospital in Liège (CHU Liège), who studied a group of 40 people with substantial business experience.

A multidisciplinary study, as reported by ScienceDaily.com, revealed that seasoned entrepreneurs exhibit increased neuronal connectivity in their brains. This could contribute to unique cognitive characteristics in such individuals.

The scientists used magnetic resonance imaging to examine their subjects' brains during rest. In a departure from previous approaches, this research didn't involve any assigned cognitive task. Instead, they focused on determining how the mind of a "serial entrepreneur" operates in the absence of any given task or specific stimuli.

The study by Belgian specialists found that, in seasoned entrepreneurs, the right hemisphere of the brain (related to cognitive flexibility) has more connectivity to the prefrontal cortex (crucial for exploration) than the brains of novice entrepreneurs.

This indicates that seasoned entrepreneurs have greater cognitive flexibility, allowing them to effectively switch between exploration and exploitation, a key factor, according to the researchers, in their success.

The study originated from the doctoral thesis of Frédéric Ooms, a researcher and lecturer in the field of management and entrepreneurship at HEC, who aimed to explore how the minds of seasoned entrepreneurs function.

- This study represents an important advance in understanding the entrepreneurial mind. It highlights the potential of neuroscience and how this approach complements the traditional tools used to study entrepreneurial cognition. By highlighting the difference in cognitive flexibility, it also offers a new perspective to inform the design of training or professional development programs aimed at improving the cognitive flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit of individuals within various organizations - explains Frédéric Ooms, as quoted by ScienceDaily.com.

- 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 - adds Professor Bernard Surlemont, a professor of entrepreneurship at HEC.