Abstract: Since the work of Wolfgang Kohler, the process of insight in problem solving has been the subject of considerable investigation. Yet, the neural correlates of insight remain unknown. As the sudden and unexpected change of one’s point of view that illuminates a short and elegant solution path to a particular problem, insight means forming of novel, efficient associations among the old concepts and breaking of the unwarranted mental set. Subjects were imaged by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) when they were solving the riddles and puzzles. Results showed activities in frontal, temporal, and parietal areas to be associated with the process of insight. These results, together with other evidences, suggested that (1) hippocampus mediated the process of forming of novel, efficient associations in insight; (2) a spatial neural network including bilateral middle temporal/occipital gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left parahippocampal gyrus mediated the representational change in insight; and (3) anterior cingulate cortex and left lateral prefrontal cortex mediated the breaking of unwarranted mental set in insight.

Key words: insight, event-related fMRI, problem solving