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The Cognitive Neuroscience of Insight

John Kounios1*
  • 1 Drexel University, Psychology, United States

Insight, colloquially known as the “aha moment,” is the sudden reorganization of a knowledge representation resulting in a new understanding or solution to a problem. Though insight has been a focus of research in experimental psychology for about a century, little progress was made in understanding this phenomenon after the early pioneering behavioral studies. However, the advent of neuroimaging has reinvigorated the study of insight and elucidated its place in the newly emerging cognitive neuroscience of creativity. This talk will discuss neural activity (EEG and fMRI) at the moment of insight and during preceding states, including practical methods for priming insights. Assessing insightful versus analytic styles via resting-state EEG will also be discussed.

References

Kounios, J., & Beeman, M. (2014). The cognitive neuroscience of insight. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 71-93.

Kounios, J., & Beeman, M. (2015). The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain. New York: Random House.

Keywords: Problem Solving, creativity, EEG-fMRI, insight problem solving, cognitive style

Conference: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 27 Jun - 29 Jun, 2018.

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Topic: Neuroergonomics

Citation: Kounios J (2019). The Cognitive Neuroscience of Insight. Conference Abstract: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2018.227.00132

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Received: 06 Apr 2018; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019.

* Correspondence: Dr. John Kounios, Drexel University, Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States, john.kounios@gmail.com