采用事件相关电位(ERP)技术探讨顿悟问题(字谜)解决中提供答案后的脑内时程动态变化。结果发现,在250~400ms内,“有顿悟”和“不理解”比“无顿悟”的ERP波形均有一个更为负向的偏移。在“有顿悟一无顿悟”和“不理解一无顿悟”的差异波中,这个负成分的潜伏期约为320ms(N320),地形图显示,N320在中后部活动最强。进一步对“有顿悟一无顿悟”差异波作偶极子溯源分析,发现N320主要起源于扣带前回(ACC)附近。这似乎表明,N320可能反映了提供答案瞬间新旧思路之间的认知冲突,但是却不能真正揭示顿悟问题解决中思维定势的成功突破以及“恍然大悟”所对应的独特脑内时程变化。
Introduction Recently, Mai Xiaoqin et al. applied ERPs to examine the electrophysiological correlates of insight by providing a trigger (the solution) to catalyze the insightful fiddle solving process. The authors found that Aha answers elicited a more negative ERP deflection (N380) than did No-aha answers in the time window from 250 ~500 ms. The dipole analysis localized the N380 generator to the ACC. Thus, they argued that the N380 likely reflected an " Aha" effect, and that the ACC generator might be involved in breaking the subject's mental set. However, the researchers only analyzed the ERP elicited under the conditions of "Aha" and "No-aha" answers, but did not include ERP analyses for the participants that were unable to understand the correct answers ( "Uncomprehended answer" ). It is known that insight is a complex cognitive process, and there exists doubt whether N380 (the ACC" activation) would truly reflect the perception of cognitive conflict in the early insight onset. Participants had the Aha experience if they could understand the fight answer, but if they could not understand the right answer, they would not have the Aha experience and thus could not obtain insight. Therefore, analyzing the ERP elicited by Unknown answers was important, because it could further clarify the true meaning of N380. Method High-density event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to examine the electrophysiologic correlates of insight problem solving. One hundred and fifty interesting Chinese logogriphs were adopted as materials. For each trial, participants were either given an easy puzzle followed by a correct answer that was consistent with their initial thinking ( No-aha answer), or a difficult puzzle followed by a correct answer that was consistent with an unusual interpretation, so that it broke the participant~ initial mental set (Aha answer). Participants were required to press the corresponding keys to indicate whether they understood the meaning of the