Getting a grip on insight: real-time and embodied Aha experiences predict correct solutions

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Creativity Studies

Background:

• Insight experiences are sudden, impactful cognitive events linked to novel idea generation.
• Existing measures of insight may not capture the real-time, continuous nature of the experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a new continuous, visceral measure of insight problem-solving.
• To investigate if real-time, embodied feelings of insight predict solution accuracy.

Main Methods:

• A preregistered experiment using a novel dynamometer to measure the intensity of insight experiences.
• Correlating insight intensity and physical embodiment (grip force) with problem-solving accuracy for implicit processing tasks.

Main Results:

• A strong positive relationship was found between Aha moments and accuracy for implicit tasks.
• Insight intensity significantly predicted solution accuracy.
• Physical embodiment of insight intensity (dynamometer grip) also predicted accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The novel dynamometer measure effectively captures both the process and feeling of insight in real-time.
• Insight intensity, measured continuously and embodied, provides valuable information about solution veracity.
• Feelings of insight may serve as a heuristic for selecting ideas from consciousness.