Moments of insight, a phenomenon of creative cognition in which an idea suddenly emerges into awareness as an "Aha!" are often reported to be affectively positive experiences. We tested the hypothesis that problem-solving by insight is accompanied by neural reward processing. We recorded high-density EEGs while participants solved a series of anagrams. For each solution, they reported whether the answer had occurred to them as a sudden insight or whether they had derived it deliberately and incrementally (i.e., "analytically'). Afterwards, they filled out a questionnaire that measures general dispositional reward sensitivity. We computed the time-frequency representations of the EEGs for trials with insight (I) solutions and trials with analytic (A) solutions and subtracted them to obtain an I-A time-frequency representation for each electrode. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) analyses tested for significant I-A and reward-sensitivity effects. SPM revealed the time, frequency, and scalp locations of several I > A effects. No A > I effect was observed. The primary neural correlate of insight was a burst of (I > A) gamma-band oscillatory activity over prefrontal cortex approximately 500 ms before participants pressed a button to indicate that they had solved the problem. We correlated the I-A time-frequency representation with reward sensitivity to discover insight-related effects that were modulated by reward sensitivity. This revealed a separate anterior prefrontal burst of gamma-band activity, approximately 100 ms after the primary I-A insight effect, which we interpreted to be an insight-related reward signal. This interpretation was supported by source reconstruction showing that this signal was generated in part by orbitofrontal cortex, a region associated with reward learning and hedonically pleasurable experiences such as food, positive social experiences, addictive drugs, and orgasm. These findings support the notion that for many people insight is rewarding. Additionally, these results may explain why many people choose to engage in insight-generating recreational and vocational activities such as solving puzzles, reading murder mysteries, creating inventions, or doing research. This insight-related reward signal may be a manifestation of an evolutionarily adaptive mechanism for the reinforcement of exploration, problem solving, and creative cognition.

中文翻译：

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与洞察力相关的神经奖励信号

洞察时刻，一种创造性认知的现象，其中一个想法突然以“啊哈！”的形式出现在意识中。经常被报告为情感上的积极体验。我们检验了通过洞察力解决问题伴随着神经奖励处理的假设。我们记录了高密度脑电图，同时参与者解决了一系列字谜。对于每一个解决方案，他们都报告了答案是他们突然想到的，还是他们有意和渐进地得出的（即“分析性的”）。然后，他们填写了一份问卷，测量一般性情奖励敏感性。我们计算了具有洞察力 (I) 解决方案的试验和具有分析 (A) 解决方案的试验的 EEG 的时频表示，并将它们减去以获得每个电极的 IA 时频表示。统计参数映射 (SPM) 分析测试了显着的 IA 和奖励敏感性影响。SPM 揭示了几个 I > A 效应的时间、频率和头皮位置。没有观察到 A > I 效应。洞察力的主要神经关联是在参与者按下按钮以表明他们已经解决了问题之前大约 500 毫秒前额叶皮层上爆发的 (I > A) 伽马波段振荡活动。我们将 IA 时频表示与奖励敏感性相关联，以发现受奖励敏感性调节的洞察力相关影响。这揭示了一个单独的前额叶伽马带活动爆发，在主要 IA 洞察力效应之后大约 100 毫秒，我们将其解释为与洞察力相关的奖励信号。这种解释得到了源重建的支持，表明该信号部分是由眶额皮质产生的，眶额皮质是一个与奖励学习和享乐愉悦体验（如食物、积极的社交体验、成瘾药物和性高潮）相关的区域。这些发现支持这样一种观点，即对许多人来说，洞察力是有益的。此外，这些结果可以解释为什么许多人选择从事产生洞察力的娱乐和职业活动，例如解谜、阅读谋杀之谜、创造发明或进行研究。