Final answer:
The correct term describing the origin of cultural elements and their spread to surrounding regions is Diffusion. It is the transfer of cultural traits from one society to another, often through mechanisms like migration and trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term culture that describes centers of innovation and invention from which key cultural traits and elements move to exert influence on surrounding regions is Diffusion. Cultural diffusion is the process by which the cultural elements are spread from the point of origin, or the hearth, across other regions and societies. This spread can occur via mechanisms such as migration, trade, or through the influence of media and communication technologies.
When we consider the First Law of Geography, which characterizes the process of diffusion, it resembles the concept where an idea, invention, or behavior originates. This point of origin, the hearth, acts as a hub from which innovations spread. Examples of cultural diffusion include the spread of democratic ideas, language, technology, and global sports, often finding their way into different societies and causing cultural convergence or divergence.