Reference Message Network reported on May 23 that according to a report from the website of the Spanish "Muy Interesante" magazine on May 20, when a concept suddenly lights up in the mind like a light bulb, it is far more than just a sense of satisfaction. A new study published in the journal "Nature Communications" shows that these "Eureka" moments (insightful moments) trigger brain reconstruction, doubling the probability of memory retention. This discovery provides key evidence for how the brain transforms information into enduring memories and has implications for discovery-based educational models.

This research, conducted jointly by Duke University, Humboldt University, and Hamburg University, recorded brain activity while 31 participants solved visual puzzles using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The Munroe images (black and white abstract graphics) required complex perceptual processing. Five days later, participants were asked to recall solutions.

"When you achieve an 'Eureka' moment in learning, the retention rate of memory nearly doubles," said Roberto Cabeza, author of the study and professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University. This expert, who has been studying memory for 30 years, noted, "Few memory effects are as strong as this."

The study found that problems solved through insight (accompanied by sudden clarity and satisfaction) had significantly higher memory accuracy compared to those solved step-by-step. Specifically, "Eureka moments" increased memory retention rates by nearly double.

Insightful moments cause representational changes in the visual cortex, particularly in areas such as the posterior fusiform gyrus and the lateral occipital complex. This neural pattern reorganization indicates that when sudden understanding occurs, the brain interprets information in a new visual way.

In addition, participants with greater confidence during "Eureka moments" showed higher activation levels in the hippocampus (a critical area for forming long-term memories). There was a correlation between the intensity of insight and enhanced functional connectivity among brain regions related to visual perception, emotion, and memory consolidation.

During intuitive insights, increased activity in the hippocampus and amygdala suggests not only visual information restructuring but also positive emotional responses.

The hippocampus acts as a bridge between perceiving the world and storing memories; when activated by insight, it strengthens memory traces. The amygdala assigns emotional significance to understood content, promoting memory consolidation.

The combination of emotion, novelty, and perceptual clarity forms the brain's characteristics for reinforcing memory. This mechanism reveals why knowledge acquired through self-discovery is often memorable.

"This is a small discovery, but it produces features identical to those present in major cognitive events," explained Cabeza.

The study also analyzed functional connections between brain regions during insights, finding that when learning occurs in the form of sudden discoveries, information transfer between the occipitotemporal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala is more efficient.

This integrated circuitry indicates that the brain not only encodes visual information but also combines it with emotional context and past experiences to transform it into enduring memories. The higher the coordination of this circuitry, the greater the likelihood of recalling information days later.

"Different brain regions are essentially engaging in more efficient communication," described Cabeza. The stronger the intensity of the "Eureka moment," the stronger the synchronicity among brain regions responsible for recognition, activation, and storage. This neural synergy is crucial for converting transient perceptions into consolidated knowledge.

"During an 'Eureka moment,' the brain restructures visual representations," noted Maxi Becker, a postdoctoral researcher at Humboldt University.

The most practically significant finding is that insight not only helps solve problems but also enhances long-term memory. This research result provides direct guidance for instructional design. Teaching methods that encourage problem-solving, discovery learning, and visual thinking, compared to rote memorization, can stimulate more "Eureka moments," thereby optimizing knowledge consolidation.

Integrating activities that promote creative thinking, exploration, and active reconstruction of information can improve academic performance and strengthen the neural foundation of learning.

The study also revealed that positive emotions associated with insights enhance memory. When learning is accompanied by pleasure, curiosity, or surprise, neurotransmitters such as dopamine released by the brain increase synaptic plasticity, making neural circuit remodeling more efficient and learning deeper and more lasting.

Memory is not merely a cold, mechanical process but also an emotional and motivational one. Understanding this can change our approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment.

Insight reconstructs the brain, strengthens memory, and enhances comprehension. This study provides neuroscientific evidence: learning with emotion and discovery is not only more rewarding but also more effective.

"Insight is the core of creativity," emphasized Cabeza. Future education may need to design experiences that spark curiosity and create surprises, allowing each student to experience their own "Eureka moment." As the study shows, content learned with flashes of insight is remembered most vividly.

(Translated by Han Chao)

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507617591293182490/

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