The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain

The Eureka FactorSudden, illuminating thoughts are not new phenomena; we often encounter such ideas throughout our lives. The authors, Kounios and Beeman, focus on these thoughts and try to delineate their nature, their relevance to our lives as well ad to examine how they could be tapped to improve problem solving techniques.Do these 'insights', as they are called, have any physical presence in our brain activity or are they merely passing thoughts of no specific character? Using brain imaging, by relying on EEG and MRI, it was observed that a key area in the right hemisphere of the brain lighted up during an insightful moment. This exciting discovery gave the authors enough evidence of the reality and distinctiveness of insight. It also attracted considerable attention in the fields of psychology and neuroscience as well as in the general media. It was agreed that more research was necessary.What became important was the differentiation between the two processes of problem solving. The old traditional approach called the 'analytical' depended on the use of logic and evaluation of incremental steps to arrive at a solution. In the new 'insightful' approach scientists discovered that if they could activate the brain to deliver solutions to the problem at hand it would lead to a quick and clear results. But, as could be imagined, the insightful approach was a big challenge as it could not be forced or manuvered ; it was usually sudden and untimely. This dichotomy between the 'analytical' and the 'insightful' approaches to problem solving became the central issue in this book.Perhaps the reader might be excused for asking: of what practical use are all these tests and studies if the insightful approach is so elusive and unreliable? The authors realising this tried to introduce ways and means of activating the brain to generate the desired insight as and when needed. Some of their suggestions: concentrate on the problem, get enough sleep, clear your mind of other issues, create a relaxing atmosphere away from noise and glare, use soft music... etc. These and others seemed to help, but they required time and patience - two features that are surely scarce in our busy lives these days.Interestingly, the authors make only brief reference to the old, tried approach which could be tested by all of us: Focus on the problem at bedtime; have a good night sleep; wake up and check your thoughts in the morning, and, Eureka! your insight will be (should be) there!!Fuad R QubeinMarch, 2017

Brain science has inundated the world of leadership development. As an executive coach who happens to be married to a neuroscientist and neurologist I constantly am trying to separate the brilliance from the bunk and to find the useful bites I can share with clients and colleagues. The frequent response from my in-house neuro-expert when I quote or show him some new lay publication is an intense scowl and choice words. Not so here. Each trial balloon I have lobbed in his direction has been met approving nods and exclamations such as "that's good science."Kounios and Beeman do a wonderful job of sharing their own research and that of others in plain language, and offer thoughts on how to use this information in our own lives.

Kounios & Beeman’s highly readable book illustrates with different sorts of evidence how our thinking sometimes makes a sudden shift towards insight and away from problem-focused, analytical thinking. These insights are fostered by positive mood, by travel and living in other cultures, and often by embracing the “big picture” at the expense of details. While people can be drummed into solving problems step by step, they can’t be coerced into creative insight through deadlines, threatening bosses, and especially a negative social climate. The authors provide classic examples of leaders in science and the arts who cultivated the “insight” experiences in their fields, and stuck with those insights to make amazing contributions from Helen Keller whose first linguistic associations with sign were remembered in her autobiography to Judah Folkman who originated the idea of angiogenesis to explain cancer growth. This book offers students of psychology and teachers and mentors from many different fields to consider what it takes to promote creativity, innovation and more “aha” moments. The last chapter offers key strategies to unleash creative thinking through simple routines encompassing meditation, an open and light workspace, and eliminating distraction. This is not only an excellent introduction to the topic of creative insight and neuroscience, but to many pioneers in social and cognitive psychology.

Beautifully written, scientifically informed, and (dare I say?) extremely insightful. This review of the science of "aha" experiences, by two widely respected cognitive neuroscientists, offers something for just about everyone. It could serve as a textbook example of how to translate laboratory research into a compelling and rich narrative that will be accessible to a general audience. The final chapter, on how to stimulate insight experiences, is worth the price of admission by itself. If you're looking for a great read, look no further. If you're looking for a book that could change how you think about thinking, you've found it.

Interesting perspective on how and why ideas pop in our heads at certain times.

Great book! Fun, easy to read and critically important information for leaders and teachers!

excellent!

Worth the read.

One learns everyday. Great book.

Fast shipping and great product

The book is great. Must read for all.

Very interesting and easy to read because of a humourus way or writing and many tips to get to the aha moment.

Good read based on scientific proof rather than conjecture.Would have liked some 'how todos' and some practical qui dance