Running head: A REVIEW OF NEURAL ACTIVITY

A Review of Neural Activity When People Solve Verbal Problems with Insight Patricia A. Fails Salt Lake Community College

REVIEW OF NEURAL ACTIVITY

The scientific journal article, Neural Activity When People Solve Verbal Problems with Insight was written by Mark Jung-Beeman, Edward M. Bowden, and John Kounios, and published in PLoS Biology. This article relays the research performed on a study to obtain more information about what exactly happens in the brain as a seemingly instantaneous idea or solution comes to mind accompanied by a sudden rush of emotion as one processes the new thought. The researchers, inspired by Archimedes and the story of his sudden realization and excitement as he discovered an important mathematical concept as if in a flash, decided to perform an experiment to learn just what causes this spark of knowledge to appear. A hypothesis was established to measure if the I got it! moment is really spontaneously conjured, or if the brain is processing the solution and subconsciously thinking about it before the moment occurs which evokes the emotional outward expression of relief and/or excitement (Jung-Beeman et al.). The following paragraphs will attempt to summarize the researchers experiments, methods, and conclusions from the data obtained. To test their hypothesis, Jung-Beeman et al. (2004) conducted two experiments using two different brain imaging devices to measure participating subjects neural activity while performing specially designed verbal problem solving tasks. Researchers in Experiment 1 utilized a technique of measurement called functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) which measures neural function by detecting blood and oxygen flow within various areas of the brain when stimulated (Devlin, 2007). Devlin (2007) stated, Over the last decade it (FMRI) has provided new insight to the investigation of how memories are formed, language, pain, learning and emotion to name but a few areas of research. For experiment 1, Jung-Beeman et al. (2004) expected to learn the specific sites in the brain contributing to how one solves verbal problems with insight. Experiment 2 involved the use of electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement which

REVIEW OF NEURAL ACTIVITY

detects differences in electrical movement in the brain in time intervals as fast as one millisecond (Demitri, 2007). The purpose of using EEG in Experiment 2 was to assess the time course (e.g., whether insight really is sudden) and frequency characteristics of neurophysiological differences. (Jung-Beeman et al., 2004) Together, the experiments aimed to explain the different uses and activations of the brain when people use insight to solve problems versus people not using insight (or having the thats it! moment), and whether the insight is in fact as instantaneous as it seems (Jung-Beeman et al., 2004). The results of both experiments yielded much insightful information regarding the neural processes activated at a given moment as subjects were exposed to various verbal stimuli. When the results of Experiment 1 were examined, Jung-Beeman et al. (2007) found evidence confirming their prior predictions in that a very specific part of the brain (the right hemisphere anterior superior temporal gyrus), aka RH aSTG, was used by the participants when insight solutions were used. In experiment 2, the EEGs of the subjects captured data consistent with predictions of activity in the same region (temporal segment of right hemisphere) identified in Experiment 1 by fMRI. Finally, from the article, the discussion and conclusion emerge. The analyzed data from the FMRI and EEG experiments reveal with certain assurance that the RH aSTG location in the brain plays a significant factor in solving verbal problems with insight (Jung-Beeman et al., 2004). People come to an impasse on insight problems because their retrieval efforts are misdirected by ambiguous information in the problem or by their usual method for solving similar problems (Jung-Beeman et al., 2004). When considering this information, it makes sense that in the midst of this stall in the flow of intellect, a seemingly random phrase or picture associated with the problem becomes the missing piece of the puzzle needed to see the whole

REVIEW OF NEURAL ACTIVITY

picture. An unexpected yet equally significant result from Experiment 2 was recorded which showed neural electrical activity over the right posterior parietal cortex before subjects actually exhibited motions or emotions related to insight solutions. Jung-Beeman et al. (2004) summarized their efforts by relaying that solving problems with insight, a sudden light turning on in the brain, does indeed occur in a specific region of the brain not observed with being in a neutral state of mind with no insightful progressions toward resolution to a problem.

REVIEW OF NEURAL ACTIVITY

References Devlin, H. (2007). What is Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)?. Psych Central. Retrieved on July 22, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-functionalmagnetic-resonance-imaging-fmri/0001056 Demitri, M. (2007). Types of Brain Imaging Techniques. Psych Central. Retrieved on July 22, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/types-of-brain-imaging-techniques/0001057 Jung-Beeman M, Bowden EM, Haberman J, Frymiare JL, Arambel-Liu S, et al. (2004) Neural Activity When People Solve Verbal Problems with Insight. PLoS Biol 2(4): e97. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020097

REVIEW OF NEURAL ACTIVITY