Book contents
- The Emergence of Insight
- The Emergence of Insight
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- I Introduction
- II Fixation and Insight
- III Pathways to Insight
- IV After Insight
- Chapter 9 The Adaptive Function of Insight
- Chapter 10 The Insight Memory Advantage
- V Cognitive Neuroscience of Insight
- VI Conclusion
- Index
- References
Chapter 10 - The Insight Memory Advantage
from IV - After Insight
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 May 2024
- The Emergence of Insight
- The Emergence of Insight
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- I Introduction
- II Fixation and Insight
- III Pathways to Insight
- IV After Insight
- Chapter 9 The Adaptive Function of Insight
- Chapter 10 The Insight Memory Advantage
- V Cognitive Neuroscience of Insight
- VI Conclusion
- Index
- References
Summary
Aha! experiences are often very well recalled. The idea of insight leaving an indelible mark on memory was put forward by the Gestalt psychologists, yet has remained under-studied. This chapter provides an overview the existing empirical evidence for an insight memory advantage and possible explanations for why insight enhances memory. Several studies have focused on the phenomenological aspect of insight by showing that solutions associated with Aha! experiences are remembered better than those without, even after delays of up to two weeks. Confidence (i.e., a metacognitive reaction) and pleasure (i.e., an affective reaction) were also shown to play a role. On the other hand, there could also be a potential association between solution processes involving restructuring (i.e., the cognitive aspect of insight) and better memory. At present a clearer role is seen for the phenomenological effects of insight experiences on memory, but more work is needed that explores both phenomenological and cognitive aspects of insight in the same studies.
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- The Emergence of Insight , pp. 199 - 220Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024