The unconscious nature of insight: A dual-task paradigm investigation

Abstract

Background. Insight is a specific part of the thinking process during creative problem solving. The experience of a sudden unexpected solution of the problem makes it distinct from other problem solving. Though the insight problem solving process is hidden from the observer and the solver himself, it is possible to study working memory changes during the problem-solving process in order to observe the tracks of insight. objective. A critical experiment was carried out to determine whether it is legitimate to measure insight-problem-solving dynamics within a dual-task paradigm and working memory model. Also a verification was conducted of the hypothesis of whether insight problem solving competes for cognitive resources with unconscious processes. Design. We designed a special procedure based on Kahneman's (1973) modified dual-task paradigm, allowing simultaneous performance of the problem-solving process and probe tasks of different types. The reaction time was measured for the probe task. There were two problems conditions (insight and regular), and two probe tasks conditions (implicit and explicit). Participants: 32 participants, aged from 18 to 32 years (M = 19.81; σ = 2.51). Results. Significant differences in implicit probe reaction time were found between the dual-task condition (implicit categorization and insight problem solving) and solo implicit probe condition (t(15) =-3.21, p = .006, d =-.76). A joint effect of problem type and probe type was found (F(1, 60)= 4.85, p = .035, η p 2 = .07). conclusion. The results support the idea that information processing of conscious and of unconscious processes are separate. Unconscious processing capacity is limited. Implicit skill seems to be operated by the same mechanisms as insight problem solving, therefore competing for a common resource. It was also shown that such hidden creative unconscious processes as insight can be tracked via working memory load.

How Working Memory Provides Representational Change During Insight Problem Solving

“…While non-insight problem solving is more demanding on the control system, insight problem solving seems to rely on the processing within the modal-specific storage systems to a greater extent. While working memory is typically viewed as a system involved in explicit processing, the fact that working memory (especially the storage systems) plays a role in insight problem solving (that features rather limited conscious self-awareness), supports the idea that working memory is crucial for implicit processing as well ( Reber and Kotovsky, 1997 ; Baars and Franklin, 2003 ; Soto et al, 2011 ; Lebed and Korovkin, 2017 ). Overall, insight problem solving appears to be less demanding on working memory compared to non-insight problem solving, especially if the distinction between control system load and storage systems load is not accounted for.…”

Aha! under pressure: The Aha! experience is not constrained by cognitive load

“…To our knowledge, only one attempt has been made so far to achieve this. Lebed and Korovkin (2017) used an implicit learning task (i.e., a classification task based on a hidden rule) as a secondary task next to a problem-solving task where participants solved an insight problem versus a non-insight problem. Their results showed that this secondary task only interfered with the insightful solution search.…”

The Effect of the Embodied Guidance in the Insight Problem Solving: An Eye Movement Study

“…Our data supported that insight problem solving is unconsciously and implicitly activating process and participants unconsciously process the relation of guidance and insight problem. Growing evidence has suggested that the process of insight problem solving is largely governed by an implicit learning mechanism that detects the differences between current and goal states, and regulates the strengths of the operators ( Suzuki and Fukuda, 2013 ; Suzuki et al, 2014 ; Ball and Litchfield, 2017 ; Lebed and Korovkin, 2017 ). Suzuki and Fukuda (2013) study found that unconscious nature of insight problem solving was operator modulating the strengths during the impasse gradually, and roles of subliminal hint information in the problem solving processes.…”