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The origins of insight in resting-state brain activity
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The origins of insight in resting-state brain activity

John Kounios, Jessica I Fleck, Deborah L Green, Lisa Payne, Jennifer L Stevenson, Edward M Bowden and Mark Jung-Beeman
Neuropsychologia, v 46(1), pp 281-291
2008
PMID: 17765273
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.07.013View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Problem solving Hemispheric asymmetry Insight Resting state Creativity Attention
People can solve problems in more than one way. Two general strategies involve (A) methodical, conscious, search of problem-state transformations, and (B) sudden insight, with abrupt emergence of the solution into consciousness. This study elucidated the influence of initial resting brain-state on subjects’ subsequent strategy choices. High-density electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded from subjects at rest who were subsequently directed to solve a series of anagrams. Subjects were divided into two groups based on the proportion of anagram solutions derived with self-reported insight versus search. Reaction time and accuracy results were consistent with different cognitive problem-solving strategies used for solving anagrams with versus without insight. Spectral analyses yielded group differences in resting-state EEG supporting hypotheses concerning insight-related attentional diffusion and right-lateralized hemispheric asymmetry. These results reveal a relationship between resting-state brain activity and problem-solving strategy, and, more generally, a dependence of event-related neural computations on the preceding resting state.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Behavioral Sciences
Neurosciences
Psychology, Experimental
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