Looking outside the box: Blinks and eye movements associated with insight versus analytic problem solving

Previous studies have demonstrated distinct patterns of activity in occipital cortex for solving verbal problems via insight compared to solving analytically, both immediately prior to solution and in rest periods before each problem is presented. Here, we examined eye movement and eye blink patterns associated with the two different problem-solving styles. Participants attempted to solve 120 Compound Remote Associate (CRA) word problems within 15 seconds each, and after each solution indicated whether they had solved it through insight or analysis. Eye movements were recorded before the problem appeared and while it was on the screen. In accordance with previous behavioral and neuroimaging research, eye movement and blink patterns varied by problem solving style. Specifically, made more frequent and longer-lasting blinks during the two second preparatory period before seeing problems that they subsequently solved with insight, compared to problems they subsequently solved analytically. In the two second period immediately prior to solution, participants blinked longer and made fewer fixations in the problem area prior to solving with insight than prior to solving analytically. Consistent with other studies, these results suggest that insight involves and is facilitated by a mechanism oriented to avoid external inputs, and direct attention inward, suggesting that internal versus external directed visual attention might contribute to the two solving styles.