The time course of Chinese riddles solving: evidence from an ERP study

The electrophysiological correlates of successful insight and routine problem solving were studied in 12 healthy subjects using high-density event-related potentials (ERPs). Results showed that insight problems elicited a more negative ERP deflection (N300-800) than did routine problems between 300 and 800 ms, and a more negative ERP deflection (N1200-1500) than did routine problems between 1200 and 1500 ms over the fronto-central scalp regions. However, insight problems elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P300-800) than did routine problems between 300 and 800 ms, and a more positive ERP deflection (P1200-1500) than did routine problems between 1200 and 1500 ms over the parieto-occipital scalp regions. Dipole source analysis showed that two dipoles were located in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the parahippocampal gyrus between 300 and 800 ms, and two dipoles were located in the parahippocampal gyrus and the superior frontal gyrus between 1200 and 1500 ms. We discussed the implications of these ERP components in insight problem solving.