title: The origins of insight in resting-state brain activity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192, USA. john.kounios@gmail.com
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kounios
authors.forename: Jessica I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung-Beeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*