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Bieth T, Ovando‐Tellez M, Lopez‐Persem A, Garcin B, Hugueville L, Lehongre K, Levy R, George N, Volle E. Time course of EEG power during creative problem-solving with insight or remote thinking. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26547. [PMID: 38060194 PMCID: PMC10789201 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Problem-solving often requires creativity and is critical in everyday life. However, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying creative problem-solving remain poorly understood. Two mechanisms have been highlighted: the formation of new connections among problem elements and insight solving, characterized by sudden realization of a solution. In this study, we investigated EEG activity during a modified version of the remote associates test, a classical insight problem task that requires finding a word connecting three unrelated words. This allowed us to explore the brain correlates associated with the semantic remoteness of connections (by varying the remoteness of the solution word across trials) and with insight solving (identified as a Eurêka moment reported by the participants). Semantic remoteness was associated with power increase in the alpha band (8-12 Hz) in a left parieto-temporal cluster, the beta band (13-30 Hz) in a right fronto-temporal cluster in the early phase of the task, and the theta band (3-7 Hz) in a bilateral frontal cluster just prior to participants' responses. Insight solving was associated with power increase preceding participants' responses in the alpha and gamma (31-60 Hz) bands in a left temporal cluster and the theta band in a frontal cluster. Source reconstructions revealed the brain regions associated with these clusters. Overall, our findings shed new light on some of the mechanisms involved in creative problem-solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théophile Bieth
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP‐HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, DMU NeuroscienceParisFrance
| | - Marcela Ovando‐Tellez
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
| | - Alizée Lopez‐Persem
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
| | - Béatrice Garcin
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
- Department of NeurologyAvicenne Hospital, AP‐HPBobignyFrance
| | - Laurent Hugueville
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
- Institut du Cerveau—ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, Centre MEG‐EEG, CENIRParisFrance
| | - Katia Lehongre
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
| | - Richard Levy
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, AP‐HP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, DMU NeuroscienceParisFrance
| | - Nathalie George
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
- Institut du Cerveau—ICM, Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR7225, Sorbonne Université, Centre MEG‐EEG, CENIRParisFrance
| | - Emmanuelle Volle
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié SalpêtrièreParisFrance
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