Insight problem solving is a dynamic process wherein overcoming an impasse involves restructuring the problem to uncover novel solutions. This process engages both conscious and unconscious cognitive mechanisms, making it a fertile ground for neurological inquiry. This study endeavors to utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate how varying lengths of priming affect insight problem solving and elucidate the associated neural mechanisms. To achieve this goal, participants were exposed to priming durations of 1000, 200, or 0 milliseconds, representing conscious, unconscious, and no priming, respectively, before engaging in insight tasks. Twenty college students took part in the study, tackling tasks such as manipulating matchsticks, reconfiguring balls, delineating balls with lines or circles, and shifting arrows. The results unveiled a notable discrepancy in reaction times across the three priming conditions, as evidenced by a significant difference, F(2, 38) = 14.44, p < .001, η2p = .432. Predictably, conscious priming yielded the shortest reaction times. On the neural level, conjunction analyses disclosed activations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior parietal lobule across all priming conditions. However, conscious priming elicited heightened activation in the caudate, while unconscious priming correlated with increased activation in the precuneus. These findings furnish neural evidence underscoring both implicit and explicit processes involved in insight problem-solving.

Authors:
Wei-Chin Hsu, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Yu-chu Yeh, National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Chih-Yen Chang, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Yu-chu Yeh is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at National Chengchi University in Taiwan

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