Tracing executive functions in insight

Abstract

Usually the central executive is considered as a single capacity in the insight studies which leads to inconsistent results on the link between the central executive of working memory and insight. We suppose a more detailed view on the process of insight solution in which various executive functions could be important at different solution stages: updating is necessary to build a problem’s representation, inhibition—to overcome the impasse, shifting—to restructure the problem’s representation. These assumptions were not confirmed in an experiment via dual-task paradigm and cognitive load. We did not find the relation between executive functions and solution stages, but we demonstrated that the more complexity of dual-task, the more cognitive load in problem solving. Moreover, the highest load of executive functions is observed at the end of insight solution. We speculate that the loading occurs either due to decrease of the free space in working memory storage systems, or due to a resource-intensive event (for example, representational change).

Keywords:

• Central executive
• executive functions
• insight
• insight problem solving
• working memory

Author contributions

All authors together designed the experiments. JP conducted the experiment. AS prepared experiment materials and analyzed the data. IM helped in data processing and prepared the computerized version of experiment. SK and AS wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors were critically involved in the interpretation of the results and in revising the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

AS, IM, and SK were supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research 19-29-14189-mk.