title: Thinking on your back: solving anagrams faster when supine than when standing.
abstract: There is potentially less locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system activity when lying down than when standing, an effect expected to develop via a difference in baroreceptor load. Furthermore, there is evidence implying that locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system activity impairs attempts to solve anagrams. Consistent with these ideas, we found that subjects solved anagrams significantly faster when supine than when standing. With anagrams characterized as insight problems, our finding suggests that insight may be influenced by body posture.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lipnicki
authors.forename: Don G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D016683:Supine Position / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine