Eureka! The brain science behind lightbulb moments

Experiences of insight come with a burst of brain activity — and a memory boost.

Scientists are using the tools of neuroscience to reveal which regions of the brain are active during moments of insight, and how they interact when ‘eureka!’ strikes. They’ve refined the puzzles they use to trigger insight and the measurements they take, in an attempt to turn a self-reported, subjective experience into something that can be documented and rigorously studied. This foundational work has led to new questions, including why some people are more insightful than others, what mental states could encourage insight and how insight might boost memory.

Source: Nature