Table_2_How Working Memory Provides Representational Change During Insight Problem Solving.XLSX

Numerous studies of insight problem solving are focused on both the control and storage systems of working memory. We obtained contradictory data about how working memory systems are involved in insight problem solving process. We argue that measuring the dynamics of the control system and storage systems through the course of problem solving can provide a more refined view on the processes involved, as a whole, and explain the existing controversies. We theorize that specific insight mechanisms require varying working memory capacities at different stages of the problem solving process. Our study employed a dual task paradigm to track the dynamics of working memory systems load during problem solving by measuring the reaction time in a secondary probe-task during different stages of problem solving. We varied the modality (verbal, visual) and the complexity of the probe-task during insight and non-insight problem solving. The results indicated that the dynamics of working memory load in insight problems differs from those in non-insight problems. Our first experiment shows that the complexity of the probe-task affects overall probe-task reaction times in both insight and non-insight problem solving. Our second experiment demonstrates that the solution of a non-insight problem is primarily associated with the working memory control system, while insight problems rely on relevant storage systems. Our results confirm that insight process requires access to various systems of working memory throughout the solution. We found that working memory load in non-insight problems increases from stage to stage due to allocation of the attentional control resources to interim calculations. The nature of the dynamics of working memory load in insight problems remains debatable. We claim that insight problem solving demands working memory storage during the entire problem solving process and that control system plays an important role just prior to the solution.

现有诸多关于顿悟问题解决的研究，均聚焦于工作记忆(working memory)的控制系统与存储系统。目前针对工作记忆系统如何参与顿悟问题解决过程的相关研究结论尚存矛盾。本研究认为，通过追踪问题解决全程中控制系统与存储系统的动态变化，能够更精准地阐明该过程的整体机制，并为化解现有争议提供依据。我们提出理论假设：特定顿悟机制在问题解决的不同阶段，对工作记忆容量的需求存在差异。本研究采用双任务范式(dual task paradigm)，通过在问题解决的不同阶段测量次级探测任务的反应时，追踪工作记忆系统负荷的动态变化。本研究在顿悟与非顿悟问题解决任务中，对探测任务的通道类型（言语、视觉）与复杂度进行了变量控制。结果显示，顿悟问题与非顿悟问题的工作记忆负荷动态变化模式存在显著差异。第一项实验结果表明，无论顿悟还是非顿悟问题解决任务，探测任务的复杂度均会影响其整体反应时。第二项实验则证实，非顿悟问题的解决主要依赖工作记忆控制系统，而顿悟问题的解决则依赖相应的存储系统。本研究结果证实，顿悟问题解决的全程均需要调用工作记忆的不同子系统。我们发现，非顿悟问题的工作记忆负荷会随阶段推进逐步升高，这是因为注意力控制资源被分配给了中间计算过程。而顿悟问题的工作记忆负荷动态变化的本质，目前仍存在争议。我们据此提出：顿悟问题解决在全程均需要调用工作记忆存储系统，而控制系统仅在解题即将完成前发挥关键作用。