Effects of the brief viewing of emotional stimuli on understanding of insight solutions

Sakaki, Michiko; Niki, Kiyomi

doi:10.3758/s13415-011-0051-0

Cited by 27 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 67 publications

(113 reference statements)

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“…This result, as well as the negative correlations between flow and visual search time, could be due to type of task or type of abilities 31) . Although previous studies reported that positive emotion facilitates flexible thinking 32) and verbal ability 33) , implicit learning in contextual cueing might occur almost independently from emotional responses, including flow. It has also been shown that positive emotion impedes a logical 34,35) and careful way of thinking 36) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Relationship between Flow, Sleepiness and Cognitive Performance: The Effects of Short Afternoon Nap and Bright Light Exposure

2012

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"Flow" is a positive emotional state which typically occurs when a person perceives a balance between the challenges associated with a situation and his or her capabilities to accomplish these demands. While flow often occurs along with positive feelings and high introspective performance, only a few studies have investigated how it is associated with cognitive performance (i.e., objective performance). In the present study, we investigated the relationship between flow, emotions, and cognitive performance. A short nap (20 min) and bright light (>2,000 lux) techniques were used as experimental manipulations to enhance flow. Fifteen participants (31.3 ± 7.19 yr old) took part in four experimental conditions: rest, short nap, bright light, and nap and bright light. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for flow and other indices using standardized data. Results showed that flow scores significantly increased after a short nap and under bright light exposure. The correlations between flow and reaction time were also significant. Flow was significantly associated with positive emotion and sleepiness. These results suggest that a short nap and bright light can be employed as a flow facilitator and that flow status can be used as an indicator in evaluating work efficiency and occupational mental health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Relationship between Flow, Sleepiness and Cognitive Performance: The Effects of Short Afternoon Nap and Bright Light Exposure

2012

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“…It also matches our everyday experience of insight as a very pleasant event. Further, positive affect is known to facilitate insight (e.g., Isen et al, 1987; Bolte et al, 2003; Subramaniam et al, 2009; Sakaki and Niki, 2011). The present finding that feeling happy or in a good mood predicts a global rating of Aha!…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What about False Insights? Deconstructing the Aha! Experience along Its Multiple Dimensions for Correct and Incorrect Solutions Separately

2017

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The subjective Aha! experience that problem solvers often report when they find a solution has been taken as a marker for insight. If Aha! is closely linked to insightful solution processes, then theoretically, an Aha! should only be experienced when the correct solution is found. However, little work has explored whether the Aha! experience can also accompany incorrect solutions (“false insights”). Similarly, although the Aha! experience is not a unitary construct, little work has explored the different dimensions that have been proposed as its constituents. To address these gaps in the literature, 70 participants were presented with a set of difficult problems (37 magic tricks), and rated each of their solutions for Aha! as well as with regard to Suddenness in the emergence of the solution, Certainty of being correct, Surprise, Pleasure, Relief, and Drive. Solution times were also used as predictors for the Aha! experience. This study reports three main findings: First, false insights exist. Second, the Aha! experience is multidimensional and consists of the key components Pleasure, Suddenness and Certainty. Third, although Aha! experiences for correct and incorrect solutions share these three common dimensions, they are also experienced differently with regard to magnitude and quality, with correct solutions emerging faster, leading to stronger Aha! experiences, and higher ratings of Pleasure, Suddenness, and Certainty. Solution correctness proffered a slightly different emotional coloring to the Aha! experience, with the additional perception of Relief for correct solutions, and Surprise for incorrect ones. These results cast some doubt on the assumption that the occurrence of an Aha! experience can serve as a definitive signal that a true insight has taken place. On the other hand, the quantitative and qualitative differences in the experience of correct and incorrect solutions demonstrate that the Aha! experience is not a mere epiphenomenon. Strong Aha! experiences are clearly, but not exclusively linked to correct solutions.

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“…This suggests that arousal plays a more crucial role in subsequent association learning for harbinger cues than valence (i.e., positive or negative). However, positive and negative emotions sometimes impact cognitive processing differently (Sakaki, Gorlick, & Mather, 2011; Sakaki & Niki, 2011; Schmitz, De Rosa, & Anderson, 2009). Future work is needed to test the effects of contingency awareness for cues that predict emotionally positive outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association learning for emotional harbinger cues: When do previous emotional associations impair and when do they facilitate subsequent learning of new associations?

Sakaki¹,

Herrera²,

Mather³

2014

Emotion

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Neutral cues that predict emotional events (emotional harbingers) acquire emotional properties and attract attention. Given the importance of emotional harbingers for future survival, it is desirable to flexibly learn new facts about emotional harbingers when needed. However, recent research revealed that it is harder to learn new associations for emotional harbingers than cues that predict non-emotional events (neutral harbingers). In the current study, we addressed whether this impaired association learning for emotional harbingers is altered by one’s awareness of the contingencies between cues and emotional outcomes. Across three studies, we found that one’s awareness of the contingencies determines subsequent association learning of emotional harbingers. Emotional harbingers produced worse association learning than neutral harbingers when people were not aware of the contingencies between cues and emotional outcomes, but produced better association learning when people were aware of the contingencies. These results suggest that emotional harbingers do not always suffer from impaired association learning and can show facilitated learning depending on one’s contingency awareness.

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Effects of the brief viewing of emotional stimuli on understanding of insight solutions

Cited by 27 publications

References 67 publications

The Relationship between Flow, Sleepiness and Cognitive Performance: The Effects of Short Afternoon Nap and Bright Light Exposure

The Relationship between Flow, Sleepiness and Cognitive Performance: The Effects of Short Afternoon Nap and Bright Light Exposure

What about False Insights? Deconstructing the Aha! Experience along Its Multiple Dimensions for Correct and Incorrect Solutions Separately

Association learning for emotional harbinger cues: When do previous emotional associations impair and when do they facilitate subsequent learning of new associations?

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