Uniformity and nonuniformity of neural activities correlated to different insight problem solving.
Previous studies on the neural basis of insight reflected weak consistency except for the anterior cingulate cortex. The present work adopted the semantic and homophonic punny riddle to explore the uniformity and nonuniformity of neural activities correlated to different insight problem solving. Results showed that in the early period of insight solving, the semantic and homophonic punny riddles induced a common N350-500 over the central scalp. However, during -400 to 0 ms before the riddles were solved, the semantic punny riddles induced a positive event-related potential (ERP) deflection over the temporal cortex for retrieving the extensive semantic information, while the homophonic punny riddles induced a positive ERP deflection over the temporal cortex and a negative one in the left frontal cortex which might reflect the semantic and phonological information processing respectively. Our study indicated that different insight problem solving should have the same cognitive process of detecting cognitive conflicts, but have different ways to solve the conflicts.
Key Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
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Q
Zhao
Key Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
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Y
Li
Key Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
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X
Shang
Key Laboratory of Adolescent CyberPsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China. Electronic address: zhouzj@mail.ccnu.edu.cn.
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Z
Zhou
School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China.
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L
Han
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012660:Semantics; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
cognitive conflict; event-related potential; insight; problem solving; right hemisphere