Insight Problem Solving Research Articles

Executive Function Role on a Stage of Impasse in Insight Problem Solving

Executive Function Role on a Stage of Impasse in Insight Problem Solving

The Study of Unconscious Process in Insight Problem Solving: An Examination Using Priming Methods

The Study of Unconscious Process in Insight Problem Solving: An Examination Using Priming Methods

Learning and transfer of insight problem solving

Learning and transfer of insight problem solving

Discriminating the measurement attributes of the three versions of Chinese Remote Associates Test

The Remote Associates Test (RAT), a well-known creativity assessment tool, has been widely used because of its ease of implementation and objective scoring. The first Chinese version of the RAT (i.e., Chinese Remote Associates Test, CRAT), was developed in 2004 to assess the creativity of native Mandarin speakers. In addition, three versions of the CRAT have been developed: the Chinese Radical Remote Associates Test (CRRAT), the Chinese Word Remote Associates Test (CWRAT) and the Chinese Compound Remote Associates Test (CCRAT). The lack of empirical studies that illustrate the similarities and differences of the three versions has made it difficult for researchers to choose the most appropriate version for their research. Therefore, this study analyzed the convergent and discriminant validity of the three CRAT versions to distinguish them from each other and identify their distinctive features. Based on the compilation rules of the three versions of the CRAT, this study adopted verbal and graphic divergent-thinking tests and insight problems as criterion-related validity tests. A total of 301 adults participated in the tests. The results showed that the participants’ performance on CCRAT alone was positively correlated with their performance in verbal and graphic divergent-thinking tests. In addition, their CRRAT performance was positively correlated with their performance in graphic divergent thinking as well as insight problem solving. Finally, their CWRAT performance positively predicted their insight problem solving. The results of this study showed that although the three CRAT versions have similar features, they also have attributes that are unique to each version. The empirical results provide information on the criterion-related validity of the three versions of the CRAT, which could be used as a reference to help future researchers decide which version is the most appropriate for their research.

2B1-3 The process of Insight Problem Solving - a study through giving a hint in F puzzle of Geometric Insight Problem.

2B1-3 The process of Insight Problem Solving - a study through giving a hint in F puzzle of Geometric Insight Problem.

Critical thinking and regional gray matter volume interact to predict representation connection in scientific problem solving.

Representation connection (RC) is a stable ability that significantly predicts the accuracy of scientific innovation problem solving while critical thinking has been strongly related to problem solving. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this relationship have not been assessed. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and scientific innovation problem solving materials, we investigated the correlation between RC and regional gray matter volume (rGMV) in healthy young participants. We found that RC was positively correlated with rGMV in the right superior temporal gyrus (STG) and in a cluster in the left medial frontal gyrus (MFG). These results indicate that increased rGMV in the right STG may lead to the ability to overcome misdirection more easily, which may result in better semantic integration of the "certain construction" of heuristic prototypes. Increased rGMV in the left MFG may be associated with forming novel associations and retrieving matched unsolved technical problems from memory. Further analysis revealed that the interaction between critical thinking and rGMV predicted RC in insightful problem solving, and found that higher rGMV was correlated with higher RC in participants with lower cognitive maturity, but not in participants with higher cognitive maturity. These findings suggest that rGMV could interact with cognitive maturity to modulate RC in insightful problem solving.

Insight Out: Making Creativity Visible

AbstractModels of creative problem solving are predicated upon mental states to explain everything from the outcome of problem‐solving experiments to the emergence of artistic creativity. We present two converging perspectives that describe a profoundly different ontological description of creativity. Our analysis proceeds from a distinction between first‐order problem solving, where the agent interacts with a physical model of the problem and second‐order problem solving, where the agent must cogitate a solution to a problem that is presented as a verbal description of a state of the world but where the agent does not or cannot transform physical elements of a problem. We acknowledge the recent evidence that foregrounds the importance of working memory in problem solving, including insight problem solving. However, we stress that the impressive psychometric success is obtained with a methodology that only measures second‐order problem solving; we question whether first‐order problem solving is equally well predicted by measures of cognitive or dispositional capacities. We propose that if mental simulation is replaced by the opportunity to engage with a physical model of a problem then the environment can provide affordances that help the participant to solve problems. In the second part of the paper, we present the subjective experience of an artist as he monitors the microdecisions that occur during the morphogenesis of a large, clay, sculptural installation. The testimony is a vivid demonstration that creative action occurs, not in the brain, but in the movement between the hand and the clay. Insight becomes outsight.

The Effect of Working Memory Updating Ability on Spatial Insight Problem Solving: Evidence From Behavior and Eye Movement Studies.

It still remains uncertain whether working memory updating ability influences spatial insight problem solving and whether working memory updating ability plays a role in the representation restructuring phase. The current study explored the correlation of working memory updating ability and spatial insight problem solving by behavior and eye movement experiments, and the results showed that high working memory updating ability individuals spend significant shorter time to solve spatial insight problem than low working memory updating ability individuals. For participants with high or low working memory updating ability, the underlying mechanism of spatial insight problem solving is sudden rather than incremental, which demonstrated that the working memory updating ability did not influence the representation restructuring phase. Working memory updating ability influences spatial problem solving, and it works critically in the problem space search phase, while the restructuring phase is sudden and immediate, which is not influenced by working memory updating ability. The representation restructuring tends to be spontaneous.

No association of COMT with insight problem solving in Chinese college students.

Genes involved in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, such as the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT), have been suggested as key genetic candidates that might underlie the genetic basis of insight. In a sample of Chinese college students, this study examined whether COMT was associated with individual differences in the ability to solve classic insight problems. The results demonstrated that COMT was not associated with insight problem solving and there was no gender-dependent effect. This study, together with previous studies, raises the possibility of a complex relationship between COMT and insight problem solving.

Controlled Discovery: The Executive Functions in Insight Problem Solving

Executive functions could play an important role in insight problem solving, however their character, content, and pattern of dynamics may significantly differ from the role of executive functions in non-insight problems. We employed a dual-task paradigm with probe-tasks to track the dynamics of executive functions load in working memory. Two experiments in which we investigated the dynamics of executive functions load in insight and non-insight problems with simultaneous implementation of the Eriksen flanker test are described. Differences in the dynamics of various executive functions in insight problem solving were not revealed. But we found that the dynamics of reaction time in the probe-tasks differs between insight and non-insight problem solving. The results reveal that insight problem solving demands fewer executive resources, but the executive functions load is significantly greater than the baseline. Also, we found that various phases of insight problems require different amount of executive resources. The non-insight problems featured a significant executive functions load after the phase of reading the problem. In insight problem solving we observed an improvement of probe-tasks performance after the phase of reading the problem in the middle of the problem solving process. We speculate that this result reveals an impasse phase that is related to an executive functions load decrease. Surprisingly, we observed a significant increase in the executive functions activity immediately prior to the awareness of a solution. It might be due to controlled solution processing after noticing new elements of a problem that lead to the final solution.

Hippocampus and amygdala: An insight-related network involved in metaphorical solution to mental distress problem.

This study was designed to determine whether metaphorical solutions to mental distress problems result in an insightful mental experience and activate the hippocampus and amygdala: areas associated with insight. We recruited 22 healthy university students. Trials presented 75 micro-counseling scenarios while event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was applied to detect neural responses. Each scenario included a mental distress problem and one of the following solution types: metaphorical, literal, or problem-restatement. The results revealed that, compared with literal solutions or problem-restatement solutions, metaphorical solutions activated two neural networks: one associated with basic metaphorical language processing (i.e., the left inferior frontal gyrus and middle and superior temporal gyri), and a specific network associated with insightful problem solving (i.e., the bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, and fusiform gyrus). Our findings indicate that the use of metaphorical solutions to mental distress problems reliably produces salient neural activities for insight.

The Role of Motor Activity in Insight Problem Solving (the Case of the Nine-Dot Problem).

Attempts to estimate the contribution made by motor activity to insight problem solving is hindered by a lack of detailed description of motor behavior. The goal of this study was to develop and put to the test a novel method for studying the dynamics of insight problem solving based on a quantitative analysis of ongoing motor activity. As a proper problem model, we chose the nine-dot problem (Maier, 1930), in which solvers had to draw a sequence of connected line segments. Instead of using the traditional pen-and-paper way of solving the nine-dot problem we asked participants to use their index finger to draw line segments on the surface of a tablet computer. We are arguing that successful studying of the role of motor activity during problem solving requires the distinction between its instrumental and functional role. We considered the functional role on the motor activity as closely related to the on-line mode of motor planning. The goal of Experiment 1 was to explore the potential power of the method and, at the same time, to assay the patterns of motor activity related to on-line and off-line modes of motor planning. Experiments 2 and 3 were designed to uncover the potential impact of preliminary motor training on the motor output of successful and unsuccessful problem solvers. In these experiments, we tested hypotheses on how preliminary motor training, which presumably played a functional role in Experiment 2 and an instrumental role in Experiment 3, affects the motor activity of a problem solver and hence their effectiveness in solving the problem. The three experiments showed consistent results. They suggest that successful solving of the nine-dot problem relies upon the functional role of motor activity and requires both off-line and on-line modes of motor planning, with the latter helping to overcome the perceptual constraints imposed by a spatial arrangement of the nine dots. The method that we applied allows for systematic comparison between successful and unsuccessful problem solvers based on the quantitative parameters of their motor activity. Through it, we found new specific patterns of motor activity that differentiate successful and unsuccessful solvers.

Overtly prompting people to “think in opposites” supports insight problem solving

This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that “thinking in opposites” might facilitate insight problem solving. For example, if the image relating to a problem is oriented horizontally, it may be that making it vertical makes it easier to see the solution. We focus on visuo-spatial insight problem solving and study four conditions (training vs. hint, overt vs. covert identification of opposites) which differ in terms of the participants’ awareness of how considering the opposites relating to a problem might lead to possible representational transformations which would help them in their search for the solution. The training condition was associated with a greater proportion of correctly solved problems. Participants who found the solution after training also made fewer attempts and did it in a shorter time. Furthermore, they referred more frequently to the instructions they had received to use opposites and made more use of the opposites they had listed in their initial exploration (overt listing condition). Overall the results show that suggesting to the participants that they “think in opposites” worked better when it was proposed as an explicit, systematic strategy.

“Aha!” is stronger when preceded by a “huh?”: presentation of a solution affects ratings of aha experience conditional on accuracy

Insight has been investigated under the assumption that participants solve insight problems with insight processes and/or experiences. A recent trend has involved presenting participants with the solution and analysing the resultant experience as if insight has taken place. We examined self-reports of the aha experience, a defining aspect of insight, before and after feedback, along with additional affective components of insight (e.g., pleasure, surprise, impasse). Classic insight problems, compound remote associates, and non-insight problems were randomly interleaved and presented to participants. Solution feedback increased ratings of aha experience in both insight and non-insight problems, with this result being driven by responses to solutions that were initially incorrectly generated. Ratings of aha for correctly generated solutions decreased after the correct solution was presented. These findings have implications for insight research paradigms as well as informing teaching methods.

The Influence of Creativity on Incongruity-Resolution and Nonsense Humor Comprehension

Both creativity and humor are high-level cognitive functions and complex concepts. Although creativity and humor are generally deemed positively correlated, it has been difficult to explicitly identify their relationship with each other. The cognitive process of creativity includes divergent thinking, insight, and remote association, whereas humor comprehension includes incongruity resolution and nonsense humor. The difference between the 2 types of humor is in whether individuals can understand the content of jokes through logical deduction. This study explored the relationship of the different dimensions of cognitive creativity and incongruity-resolution and nonsense humor comprehension. Furthermore, we examined the influence of divergent thinking, insight, and remote association on incongruity-resolution and nonsense humor comprehension. The scores from 103 participants on a divergent thinking questionnaire, an insight problem-solving task, and the Chinese compound remote associate problems test were used to analyze their comprehension of incongruity resolution and nonsense humor. The results showed a positive correlation between remote association and incongruity-resolution humor comprehension, as well as a positive correlation between insight and nonsense humor comprehension. These findings indicate that each dimension of cognitive creativity has a particular way of connecting to various types of humor comprehension.

Does a tired mind help solve insight problem The effect of ego depletion on college professors' insight

Innovation plays an important role in the operation and management of scientific research institutions. According to behavioural science theory, the human plays an important role in the operation and management of an organisation. As the subject of knowledge innovation, the main undertaker of its innovation performance is college professors. In order to explore the influence of different ego depletion on the solution of college professors' insight problem. This paper uses the eye movement experiment to explore the process of solving the insight problems. It is found that there are significant differences between college professors in solving insight problems under different ego depletion. The difference of ego depletion in gender is insignificant, but the difference in age is significant. At the end, some suggestions are put forward to reduce the ego depletion of college professors, improve their innovative performance, and make the college operation and management more effective.

Регистрация движений глаз и когнитивный мониторинг как методы объективации процесса инсайтного решения

Current article highlights the results of the research of specific mechanisms of insight problem solving. It is based on the analysis of eye movement record data made by eye-tracker. The recorded data included average pupil diameter [mm] and fixation duration [ms]; the distribution of averaged eye movement values within the areas of interest during the manipulations with problem space was analyzed. The eye movement data was compared to the cognitive monitoring method data. The specificity of insight problems in comparison with non-insight (algorithmized) problems was validated. Several qualitative features of insight problem solving and the organization of problem space were revealed. Additionally, the priority of visual processing during insight problem solving was discovered: fixation duration increased in the “main problem” AOI.

Исследование роли межполушарного взаимодействия в решении задач: поведенческие и физиологические данные

In this paper we describe the role of interhemispheric interaction in problem solving. We have some ex- perimental hypotheses as a result of analysis of various theoretical approaches of corpus callosum functions and role of interhemispheric interaction in creative problem solving. In our research we adhere to the theory of joint work of two hemispheres during creative problem solving and the complex theory of the corpus cal- losum function. In this study we used a method of parallel probe tasks (choice of two simple alternatives) that was performed at the same time with the main problem task (insight or routine). Interhemispheric interaction was complicated by contralateral probe tasks. It means, when subject solve insight or routine problem, probe task was presented in the left/right visual field and was performed by the left/right hand. We register brain activity (EEG) during the whole experiment. The results showed us the specificity of mechanism of insight solution compared to routine solution, and that the interhemispheric interaction plays a significant role in insight problem solving.

工作记忆容量与顿悟问题解决的关系

工作记忆容量与顿悟问题解决的关系

Unpacking Impasse-Related Experience during Insight.

Mental impasse has long been recognized as a hallmark of creative insight, but its precise role has been unexplored. The aim of the present work, consisting of two studies, was to experimentally probe mental impasse perspective from insight experience, namely impasse-related experience during insight. In Study 1, participants were requested to complete a compound remote association task and a forced-choice subjective experience depiction task that could provide data on impasse-related experience. The results showed that reports of negative experience, such as feelings of loss (t = -5.51, p < .001, Cohen d = 1.07) and personal experience (mirrored by 'other' response; t = -2.62, p < .05, Cohen d = 0.48), were more common in the impasse condition than in the no-impasse condition; correspondingly positive affect and positive cognitive experiences such as happiness (t = 4.20, p < .001, Cohen d = 0.77), ease (t = 5.90, p < .001, Cohen d = 1.20), certainty (t = 7.46, p < .001, Cohen d = 1.36) and calmness (t = 4.42, p < .001, Cohen d = 0.81) were experienced more frequently in the no-impasse condition. These findings were replicated in Study 2, in which participants were invited to solve a set of classic insight problems and to freely report any feelings of being at an impasse. Across two studies, this work suggests that impasse-related experience during insight problem solving is multi-faceted and consists of negative affective and cognitive components. The implications of these findings are discussed.