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

Figures & data

Table 1. Four possible combinations of problem solving progress and insight that can be detected by the dynamometer.

	No Perceived Progress	Perceived Progress
Insight
No Insight

Note. Traditional warmth measures only detect patterns A and D, where patterns B and C would be misclassified as non-insight or insight, respectively. Spikes greater than 6 standard deviations above the mean are classified as insight moments.

Table 2. Descriptive statistics for each problem type.

	Mean Insight Intensity	Mean Confidence	Percent Correct	Dynamometer Average	Self Reported “Aha”
Analytic Problems	5.21	7.17	68%	4.86	26%
Insight Problems	6.73	6.21	57%	5.52	55%
CRA Problems	7.81	8.12	72%	7.74	72%

Figure 1. Insights for self-report (top level) and dynamometer (bottom level) for the different problem types. The figure illustrates that the incidence of self-reported insights and those captured by the dynamometer converge (i.e. show a similar pattern). Blue circles represent individual participants with a random horizontal jitter to aid visualisation. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 2. Average slope size by problem type. A greater slope in the dynamometer pattern indicates that the participant experienced more metacognitive progress towards solution. Solutions to analytic problems tended to follow from greater perceived progress (illustrative example provided on the bottom-left of the figure), compared to insight and CRA problems. Blue circles represent individual participants with a random horizontal jitter to aid visualisation. Shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 3. The proportion correct of Aha and No Aha responses, split between verbal-report (left) and the dynamometer (right). Blue circles represent individual participants with a random horizontal jitter to aid visualisation. Shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 4. Left: Regression plot with Aha intensity on the x-axis and accuracy on the y-axis. Right: Regression plot with Aha intensity on the x-axis and confidence on the y-axis. Shading represents 95% confidence intervals; grey lines represent (participant) random effects.

Figure 5. Left: Regression plot for creative problems with slope size on the x-axis and accuracy on the y-axis. Right: Regression plot for analytic problems with slope size on the x-axis and accuracy on the y-axis. Shading represents 95% confidence intervals; grey lines represent (participant) random effects.

Figure 6. Left: Regression plot with maximum dynamometer ratings on the x-axis and Aha intensity on the y-axis. Right: Regression with maximum dynamometer ratings on the x-axis and accuracy on the y-axis. Shading represents 95% confidence intervals; grey lines represent (participant) random effects.

Table

Analytic Problems	Insight Problems	Compound Remote Associates
Paula is trying to get in shape. She wants to do this by climbing stairs. She starts on the fourth floor, climbs up five stories, down seven, up six, down three, and up four again. What floor is she on now?	A woman had two sons who were born on the same hour of the same day of the same year. But they were not twins, and they were not adopted. How could this be so? (Patrick & Ahmed, 2014)	Cracker / Fly / Fighter
Next week I am going to have lunch with my friend, visit the new art gallery, go to the Social Security office, and have my teeth checked at the dentist. My friend cannot meet me on Wednesday; the Social Security office is closed weekends; the dentist has office hours only on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday; the art gallery is closed Tuesday, Thursday, and weekends. On what single day can I do everything I have planned?	A dealer of antique coins received an offer to buy a beautiful bronze coin by an unknown man. The coin had an emperor’s head on one side and the date 544 B.C. stamped on the other side. The dealer examined the coin, but instead of buying it, he called the police to arrest the man. What made him realise that the coin was fake? (Patrick & Ahmed, 2014)	Water / Mine / Shaker
Mary won't eat fish or spinach, Sally won't eat fish or green beans, Steve won't eat shrimp or potatoes, Alice won't eat beef or tomatoes, and Jim won't eat fish or tomatoes. Which items from the following list can you serve so that everyone can eat every item: green beans, creamed codfish, roast beef, roast chicken, celery, and lettuce. (Schooler et al., 1993)	In this town, a man has married 20 women. All of the women are still alive, and the man has never been divorced. Polygamy is illegal in this town, and yet the man has broken no law. How is this possible? (Patrick & Ahmed, 2014)	Right / Cat / Carbon
The following verse spells out a word. I am a food for you and me. My first letter is in pat but not in tar. My second letter is in stream but not in smart. My third letter is in giraffe but not in fridge. My fourth letter is in treat but not in absent. What is the word that this verse described?	A group of people watched as the queen attacked the king. No one said anything. Why? (Patrick & Ahmed, 2014)	Cross / Rain / Tie
There are three playing cards lying face up, side by side. A five is just to the right of a two. A five is just to the left of a two. A spade is just to the left of a club, and a spade is just to the right of a spade. What are the three cards?	A magician claimed to be able to throw a ping pong ball so that it would go a short distance, come to a dead stop, and then reverse itself. He also added that the ball would not come into contact with anything, he would not use a fan, and he would not tie anything to it. How could he perform this feat?	Tank / Hill / Secret
A group of soldiers were standing facing west. Their sergeant shouted at them: Right turn! U-turn! Left turn! In which direction are they now facing?	An unemployed woman did not have her driver’s licence with her. She failed to stop at a railroad crossing, then ignored a one-way traffic sign and travelled three blocks in the wrong direction down the one-way street. All this was observed by a policeman who was on duty, yet he made no effort to arrest the woman. Why?	Cover / Arm / Wear
The police were convinced that either A, B, C, or D had committed a crime. Each of the suspects, in turn, made a statement. Three of the statements are true, one is a lie. A said, “I didn't do it.” B said, “A is lying.” C said, “B is lying.” D said, “B did it.” Who committed the crime? (Schooler et al., 1993)	A young boy turned off the lights in his bedroom and managed to get into bed before the room was dark. If the bed is ten feet from the light switch and the lightbulb, and he used no wires, strings, or other contraptions to turn off the light, how did he do it?	Man / Glue / Star
What day follows the day before yesterday if two days from now will be Sunday?	Mr. Hardy was washing windows on a high-rise office building when he slipped and fell off a sixty-foot ladder onto the concrete sidewalk below. However, he did not injure himself in any way. How is this possible?	Illness / Bus / Computer
Three spies, suspected as double agents, speak as follows when questioned: Albert: “Bertie is a mole.” Bertie: “Cedric is a mole.” Cedric: “Bertie is lying.” Assuming that moles lie, other agents tell the truth, and there is just one mole among the three, who is the mole?	Sid Shady was working for a large construction company that was very concerned about employee theft. Someone tipped company security that Shady was the man to watch. Each night, he passed through security with a wheelbarrow full of scrap lumber, discarded electrical wires, and chunks of concrete. The security guards checked the contents daily, but could find nothing of value. What was Shady stealing?	Wet / Law / Business
A: The number of false statements here is one. B: The number of false statements here is two. C: The number of false statements here is three. D: The number of false statements here is four. E: The number of false statements here is five. Which of the above statements is true?	A man pushed a car. He stopped when he reached a hotel at which point he knew he was bankrupt. Why?	Reading / Service / Stick

Schooler, J. W., Ohlsson, S., & Brooks, K. (1993). Thoughts beyond words: When language overshadows insight. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 122(2), 166–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.122.2.166

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/w7kyc/.