Mark Jung-Beeman

Associate Professor of Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience Program
Department of Psychology
Northwestern University
2029 Sheridan Rd
Evanston IL 60208-2710

See webpage of my collaborator, John Kounios

PLoS Biology

Supplemental information

•  Paper: Neural activity observed in people solving verbal problems with insight
•  Paper listing and describing the problems used in the study (.pdf)
  (see appendix for table of problems with solving rates at different time limits)

In two experiments, we observed objective neural correlates of insight: fMRI revealed increased activity in the right hemisphere anterior Superior Temporal Gyrus for insight relative to noninsight solutions. The same region was active during initial solving efforts, demonstrating this area is not involved solely in an emotional response to the solution.

In addition, EEG revealed a sudden burst of high-frequency (gamma-band) neural activity in the same area beginning about a third of a second prior to insight solutions.

This right anterior temporal area helps make connections across distantly related information during comprehension. Although all problem solving relies on a largely shared cortical network, the sudden flash of insight occurs when solvers engage distinct neural and cognitive processes that allow them to see connections that previously eluded them.

Other recent papers

Brain bases of how positive mood facilitates insight: Subramniam et al., in press at Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.

Kounios, Preparation for insight (brain acitivity BEFORE each problem predicts insight vs analytic solving). Kounios et al., Psychological Science, 2006.

Resting state brain activity in people more or less likely to solve with insight:  Kounios, et al., Neuropsychologia   (2008).

Review & Commentary on methods in Methods: Bowden& Jung-Beeman, (2007).

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