{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T14:24:18Z","timestamp":1790259858831,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,11]],"date-time":"2019-11-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1573430400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,11]],"date-time":"2019-11-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1573430400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>When you suddenly understand how to solve a problem through an original and efficient strategy, you experience the so-called \u201cEureka\u201d effect. The appearance of insight usually occurs after setting the problem aside for a brief period of time (i.e. incubation), thereby promoting unconscious and novel associations on problem-related representations leading to a new and efficient solving strategy. The left posterior parietal cortex (lPPC) has been showed to support insight in problem solving, when this region is activated during the initial representations of the task. The PPC is further activated during the next incubation period when the mind starts to wander. The aim of this study was to investigate whether stimulating the lPPC, either during the initial training on the problem or the incubation period, might enhance representation change in problem solving. To address this question, participants performed the Number Reduction Task (NRT, convergent problem-solving), while excitatory or sham (placebo) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) was applied over the lPPC. The stimulation was delivered either during the initial problem representation or during the subsequent incubation period. Impressively, almost all participants (94%) with excitatory tDCS during the initial training gained representational change in problem solving, compared to only 39% in the incubation period and 33% in the sham groups. We conclude that the lPPC plays a role during the initial problem representation, which may be considerably strengthened by means of short brain stimulation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-52668-7","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,11]],"date-time":"2019-11-11T11:03:16Z","timestamp":1573470196000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Early stimulation of the left posterior parietal cortex promotes representation change in problem solving"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"9","author":[{"given":"Ursula","family":"Debarnot","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sophie","family":"Schlatter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julien","family":"Monteil","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aymeric","family":"Guillot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"52668_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-psych-010213-115154","volume":"65","author":"J Kounios","year":"2014","unstructured":"Kounios, J. & Beeman, M. The cognitive neuroscience of insight. Annual review of psychology 65, 71\u201393, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1146\/annurev-psych-010213-115154 (2014).","journal-title":"Annual review of psychology"},{"key":"52668_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2005.05.012","volume":"9","author":"EM Bowden","year":"2005","unstructured":"Bowden, E. M., Jung-Beeman, M., Fleck, J. & Kounios, J. New approaches to demystifying insight. Trends in cognitive sciences 9, 322\u2013328, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.tics.2005.05.012 (2005).","journal-title":"Trends in cognitive sciences"},{"key":"52668_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1443","DOI":"10.1037\/0278-7393.22.6.1443","volume":"22","author":"RW Smith","year":"1996","unstructured":"Smith, R. W. & Kounios, J. Sudden insight: all-or-none processing revealed by speed-accuracy decomposition. Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition 22, 1443\u20131462 (1996).","journal-title":"Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition"},{"key":"52668_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nlm.2017.02.005","volume":"140","author":"U Debarnot","year":"2017","unstructured":"Debarnot, U., Rossi, M., Faraguna, U., Schwartz, S. & Sebastiani, L. Sleep does not facilitate insight in older adults. Neurobiology of learning and memory 140, 106\u2013113, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.nlm.2017.02.005 (2017).","journal-title":"Neurobiology of learning and memory"},{"key":"52668_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cortex.2018.09.009","volume":"109","author":"M Craig","year":"2018","unstructured":"Craig, M., Ottaway, G. & Dewar, M. Rest on it: Awake quiescence facilitates insight. Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior 109, 205\u2013214, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cortex.2018.09.009 (2018).","journal-title":"Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior"},{"key":"52668_CR6","unstructured":"Dodds, R. A., Ward, T. B. & Smith, S. M. In Creativity Research Handbook Vol. 3 (ed. Runco, M. A.) (Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 2012)."},{"key":"52668_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.2478\/v10053-008-0143-8","volume":"9","author":"R Verleger","year":"2013","unstructured":"Verleger, R., Rose, M., Wagner, U., Yordanova, J. & Kolev, V. Insights into sleep\u2019s role for insight: Studies with the number reduction task. Advances in cognitive psychology 9, 160\u2013172, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2478\/v10053-008-0143-8 (2013).","journal-title":"Advances in cognitive psychology"},{"key":"52668_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1038\/nature02223","volume":"427","author":"U Wagner","year":"2004","unstructured":"Wagner, U., Gais, S., Haider, H., Verleger, R. & Born, J. Sleep inspires insight. Nature 427, 352\u2013355, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nature02223 (2004).","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"52668_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsycho.2018.08.018","volume":"138","author":"W Shen","year":"2018","unstructured":"Shen, W. et al. Tracking the neurodynamics of insight: A meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. Biological psychology 138, 189\u2013198, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biopsycho.2018.08.018 (2018).","journal-title":"Biological psychology"},{"key":"52668_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tins.2018.03.004","volume":"41","author":"JM Shine","year":"2018","unstructured":"Shine, J. M. & Breakspear, M. Understanding the Brain, By Default. Trends in neurosciences 41, 244\u2013247, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.tins.2018.03.004 (2018).","journal-title":"Trends in neurosciences"},{"key":"52668_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2349","DOI":"10.1523\/jneurosci.5587-06.2007","volume":"27","author":"WW Seeley","year":"2007","unstructured":"Seeley, W. W. et al. Dissociable intrinsic connectivity networks for salience processing and executive control. The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 27, 2349\u20132356, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1523\/jneurosci.5587-06.2007 (2007).","journal-title":"The Journal of neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience"},{"key":"52668_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tins.2018.07.012","author":"Y Xu","year":"2018","unstructured":"Xu, Y. The Posterior Parietal Cortex in Adaptive Visual Processing. Trends in neurosciences. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.tins.2018.07.012 (2018).","journal-title":"Trends in neurosciences"},{"key":"52668_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awt162","volume":"137","author":"R Leech","year":"2014","unstructured":"Leech, R. & Sharp, D. J. The role of the posterior cingulate cortex in cognition and disease. Brain: a journal of neurology 137, 12\u201332, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/brain\/awt162 (2014).","journal-title":"Brain: a journal of neurology"},{"key":"52668_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1900","DOI":"10.1162\/jocn.2010.21550","volume":"23","author":"A Darsaud","year":"2011","unstructured":"Darsaud, A. et al. Neural precursors of delayed insight. Journal of cognitive neuroscience 23, 1900\u20131910, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1162\/jocn.2010.21550 (2011).","journal-title":"Journal of cognitive neuroscience"},{"key":"52668_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2152","DOI":"10.1162\/jocn.2006.18.12.2152","volume":"18","author":"S Lang","year":"2006","unstructured":"Lang, S. et al. Precursors of insight in event-related brain potentials. Journal of cognitive neuroscience 18, 2152\u20132166, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1162\/jocn.2006.18.12.2152 (2006).","journal-title":"Journal of cognitive neuroscience"},{"key":"52668_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nlm.2015.07.012","volume":"125","author":"R Verleger","year":"2015","unstructured":"Verleger, R., Seitz, A., Yordanova, J. & Kolev, V. Is insight a godsend? Explicit knowledge in the serial response-time task has precursors in EEG potentials already at task onset. Neurobiology of learning and memory 125, 24\u201335, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.nlm.2015.07.012 (2015).","journal-title":"Neurobiology of learning and memory"},{"key":"52668_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1117","DOI":"10.1177\/0956797612446024","volume":"23","author":"B Baird","year":"2012","unstructured":"Baird, B. et al. Inspired by distraction: mind wandering facilitates creative incubation. Psychological science 23, 1117\u20131122, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0956797612446024 (2012).","journal-title":"Psychological science"},{"key":"52668_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Leszczynski, M., Chaieb, L. & Reber, T. P. Mind wandering simultaneously prolongs reactions and promotes creative incubation. 7, 10197, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-017-10616-3 (2017).","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-10616-3"},{"key":"52668_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1080\/10400419.2015.1087280","volume":"27","author":"S Zmigrod","year":"2015","unstructured":"Zmigrod, S., Colzato, L. S. & Hommel, B. Stimulating Creativity: Modulation of Convergent and Divergent Thinking by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). Creativity Research Journal 27, 353\u2013360, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10400419.2015.1087280 (2015).","journal-title":"Creativity Research Journal"},{"key":"52668_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1080\/10400419.2018.1446817","volume":"30","author":"F Ruggiero","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ruggiero, F., Lavazza, A., Vergari, M., Priori, A. & Ferrucci, R. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Left Temporal Lobe Modulates Insight. Creativity Research Journal 30, 143\u2013151, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10400419.2018.1446817 (2018).","journal-title":"Creativity Research Journal"},{"key":"52668_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e16655","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0016655","volume":"6","author":"RP Chi","year":"2011","unstructured":"Chi, R. P. & Snyder, A. W. Facilitate insight by non-invasive brain stimulation. PloS one 6, e16655, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0016655 (2011).","journal-title":"PloS one"},{"key":"52668_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.3389\/fnbeh.2018.00167","volume":"12","author":"C Lucchiari","year":"2018","unstructured":"Lucchiari, C., Sala, P. M. & Vanutelli, M. E. Promoting Creativity Through Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). A Critical Review. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience 12, 167, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnbeh.2018.00167 (2018).","journal-title":"Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience"},{"key":"52668_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.1007\/s41465-017-0059-7","volume":"2","author":"E Ghanavati","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ghanavati, E., Nejati, V. & Salehinejad, M. A. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Posterior Parietal Cortex (PPC) Enhances Figural Fluency: Implications for Creative Cognition. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement 2, 88\u201396, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s41465-017-0059-7 (2018).","journal-title":"Journal of Cognitive Enhancement"},{"key":"52668_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/0028-3932(71)90067-4","volume":"9","author":"RC Oldfield","year":"1971","unstructured":"Oldfield, R. C. The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychologia 9, 97\u2013113 (1971).","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"52668_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1016\/j.conb.2004.03.012","volume":"14","author":"M Behrmann","year":"2004","unstructured":"Behrmann, M., Geng, J. J. & Shomstein, S. Parietal cortex and attention. Current opinion in neurobiology 14, 212\u2013217, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.conb.2004.03.012 (2004).","journal-title":"Current opinion in neurobiology"},{"key":"52668_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"292","DOI":"10.1038\/73009","volume":"3","author":"M Corbetta","year":"2000","unstructured":"Corbetta, M., Kincade, J. M., Ollinger, J. M., McAvoy, M. P. & Shulman, G. L. Voluntary orienting is dissociated from target detection in human posterior parietal cortex. Nature neuroscience 3, 292\u2013297, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/73009 (2000).","journal-title":"Nature neuroscience"},{"key":"52668_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.7771\/1932-6246.1172","volume":"8","author":"V Goel","year":"2015","unstructured":"Goel, V., Eimontaite, I. & Schindler, I. Differential Modulation of Performance in Insight and Divergent Thinking Tasks with tDCS. Journal of problem solving 8, 23\u201335 (2015).","journal-title":"Journal of problem solving"},{"key":"52668_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-03022-2","volume":"7","author":"CDB Luft","year":"2017","unstructured":"Luft, C. D. B., Zioga, I., Banissy, M. J. & Bhattacharya, J. Relaxing learned constraints through cathodal tDCS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Scientific reports 7, 2916, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-017-03022-2 (2017).","journal-title":"Scientific reports"},{"key":"52668_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsycho.2018.03.005","volume":"135","author":"L Shi","year":"2018","unstructured":"Shi, L. et al. Large-scale brain network connectivity underlying creativity in resting-state and task fMRI: Cooperation between default network and frontal-parietal network. Biological psychology 135, 102\u2013111, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biopsycho.2018.03.005 (2018).","journal-title":"Biological psychology"},{"issue":"6418","key":"52668_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1045","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aau2528","volume":"362","author":"S. Brodt","year":"2018","unstructured":"Brodt, S., Gais, S. & Beck, J. Fast track to the neocortex: A memory engram in the posterior parietal cortex. 362, 1045\u20131048, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aau2528 (2018).","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"52668_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13251","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1605719113","volume":"113","author":"S Brodt","year":"2016","unstructured":"Brodt, S. et al. Rapid and independent memory formation in the parietal cortex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 113, 13251\u201313256, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.1605719113 (2016).","journal-title":"Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America"},{"key":"52668_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1668","DOI":"10.1016\/S0028-3932(03)00091-5","volume":"41","author":"SD Newman","year":"2003","unstructured":"Newman, S. D., Carpenter, P. A., Varma, S. & Just, M. A. Frontal and parietal participation in problem solving in the Tower of London: fMRI and computational modeling of planning and high-level perception. Neuropsychologia 41, 1668\u20131682 (2003).","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"52668_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e1459","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0001459","volume":"3","author":"S Sandkuhler","year":"2008","unstructured":"Sandkuhler, S. & Bhattacharya, J. Deconstructing insight: EEG correlates of insightful problem solving. PloS one 3, e1459, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0001459 (2008).","journal-title":"PloS one"},{"key":"52668_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2013.11.021","volume":"88","author":"M Benedek","year":"2014","unstructured":"Benedek, M. et al. To create or to recall? Neural mechanisms underlying the generation of creative new ideas. NeuroImage 88, 125\u2013133, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2013.11.021 (2014).","journal-title":"NeuroImage"},{"key":"52668_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuron.2015.03.015","volume":"86","author":"NW Schuck","year":"2015","unstructured":"Schuck, N. W. et al. Medial prefrontal cortex predicts internally driven strategy shifts. Neuron 86, 331\u2013340, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neuron.2015.03.015 (2015).","journal-title":"Neuron"},{"key":"52668_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2014.00215","volume":"8","author":"SM Ritter","year":"2014","unstructured":"Ritter, S. M. & Dijksterhuis, A. Creativity-the unconscious foundations of the incubation period. Frontiers in human neuroscience 8, 215, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnhum.2014.00215 (2014).","journal-title":"Frontiers in human neuroscience"},{"key":"52668_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8719","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0900234106","volume":"106","author":"K Christoff","year":"2009","unstructured":"Christoff, K., Gordon, A. M., Smallwood, J., Smith, R. & Schooler, J. W. Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106, 8719\u20138724, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.0900234106 (2009).","journal-title":"Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America"},{"key":"52668_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"584","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tics.2012.10.008","volume":"16","author":"A Anticevic","year":"2012","unstructured":"Anticevic, A. et al. The role of default network deactivation in cognition and disease. Trends in cognitive sciences 16, 584\u2013592, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.tics.2012.10.008 (2012).","journal-title":"Trends in cognitive sciences"},{"key":"52668_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2013.12.002","volume":"89","author":"G Ruffini","year":"2014","unstructured":"Ruffini, G., Fox, M. D., Ripolles, O., Miranda, P. C. & Pascual-Leone, A. Optimization of multifocal transcranial current stimulation for weighted cortical pattern targeting from realistic modeling of electric fields. NeuroImage 89, 216\u2013225, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2013.12.002 (2014).","journal-title":"NeuroImage"},{"key":"52668_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.1037\/xge0000378","volume":"147","author":"A Chuderski","year":"2018","unstructured":"Chuderski, A. & Jastrzebski, J. Much ado about aha!: Insight problem solving is strongly related to working memory capacity and reasoning ability. Journal of experimental psychology. General 147, 257\u2013281, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/xge0000378 (2018).","journal-title":"Journal of experimental psychology. General"},{"key":"52668_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davidson, J. E. In The nature of insight (eds Sternberg, R. J. & Davidson, J. E.) 125\u2013155 (MA: MIT Press., 1995).","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/4879.001.0001"}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-019-52668-7.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-019-52668-7","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-019-52668-7.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,17]],"date-time":"2022-12-17T15:47:52Z","timestamp":1671292072000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-019-52668-7"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,11]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,12]]}},"alternative-id":["52668"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-019-52668-7","relation":{},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,11]]},"assertion":[{"value":"14 February 2019","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"18 October 2019","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"11 November 2019","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"16523"}}