The role of working memory at different stages of insight problem solving: a critical review

This paper offers a critical review of studies published over the past few years that explore the role of working memory at different stages of insight problem solving. The overall contribution of working memory (WM) to insight problem solving remains a matter of controversy, since there is supporting evidence for both the positive and the negative roles of executive control and WM in insight problem solving. A promising way to approach this contradiction is to trace WM loading dynamics in the course of a solution. Data analysis revealed that insight problem solving is generally WM-demanding, although to a lesser extent than analytic problem solving. The WM load peaks at the beginning and at the end of insight problem solving. The initial WM load may be linked to the interpretation of a problem description, creating the initial representation, and analytic reasoning within the initial problem space. Subsequently, in the case of insight problems, the WM load decreases noticeably, which can be linked to a search for a new representation or to an impasse. At the last stage of problem solving, a short peak in the WM load precedes the solution detection, which can be linked to the restructuring of representation and the beginning of a new solution process in a new problem space.