The Sleep Mechanism of Insight During Problem-Solving
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McClarity Jones, Payton
Advisor(s)
Holder, Mary
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Abstract
While wakefulness is a contributing factor, sleep has been identified as the primary nurturing ground for “aha” moments, formally known as insight. In the sleep state, the brain creates an environment with minimal interference, allowing for the consolidation and reorganization of memory representations that result in the unexpected gain of explicit knowledge of a solution. However, it remains unclear which physiological aspects of sleep contribute to the insight mechanism. Some research suggests that slow wave sleep (SWS) attributes solely facilitate insight formation due to their role in consolidating knowledge, while others argue that rapid eye movement (REM) sleep serves as an additional contributing factor by enabling the grouping of common memory schemas. Furthermore, few studies have explored genetic predispositions to insight formation based on these sleep stages. Thus, the objective of this thesis project was to explore the interactive effects of SWS and REM sleep on insight formation during habitual sleep, as well as the potential role of biologically different sleep patterns as predisposing factors. The study utilized in-home EEG recordings across multiple nights, and the Number Reduction Problem-Solving Task (NRT) to assess insight. Despite expectations of SWS-REM interactions facilitating insight and genetic variations in sleep architecture predisposing individuals, the results revealed no significant relationships. Analyses showed no correlation between changes in SWS or REM sleep activity and cognitive performance, challenging previous research that indicated a positive association between SWS, REM, and insight. Additionally, genetic differences in sleep parameters did not emerge as predictors of insight generation. These results indicate that factors beyond SWS and REM sleep may influence insight formation. Future research with a larger sample size and more focused sleep measurements could provide further understanding of the complex relationship between sleep architecture, genetics, and problem-solving processes.
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Undergraduate Research Option Thesis