TY - JOUR
T1 - The Neural Basis of Breaking Mental Set
T2 - An Event-related Potential Study
AU - Zhao, Yufang
AU - Tu, Shen
AU - Lei, Ming
AU - Qiu, Jiang
AU - Ybarra, Oscar
AU - Zhang, Qinglin
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments This research was supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of
Funding Information:
China (No. 200806351002), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30800293), and the Science and Technology Innovation Foundation of graduate student in Southwest China University (KY2008005).
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded to explore the electrophysiological correlates of breaking mental set when subjects performed the Chinese character-generation task. A new experimental paradigm (learning-testing model) was adopted in order to make subjects find a solution actively by using a fixed way (Rep: repetition) or a new method (BMS: breaking mental set). Results showed that BMS elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P500-700) than did Rep between 500 and 700 ms after onset of the test stimuli. The P500-700 was possibly involved in the successful breaking of mental set and the initial forming of new associations during problem solving. Furthermore, BMS also elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P900-1300) than did Rep between 900 and 1,300 ms. The P900-1300 might reflect searching and generating a new character after breaking mental set.
AB - Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded to explore the electrophysiological correlates of breaking mental set when subjects performed the Chinese character-generation task. A new experimental paradigm (learning-testing model) was adopted in order to make subjects find a solution actively by using a fixed way (Rep: repetition) or a new method (BMS: breaking mental set). Results showed that BMS elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P500-700) than did Rep between 500 and 700 ms after onset of the test stimuli. The P500-700 was possibly involved in the successful breaking of mental set and the initial forming of new associations during problem solving. Furthermore, BMS also elicited a more positive ERP deflection (P900-1300) than did Rep between 900 and 1,300 ms. The P900-1300 might reflect searching and generating a new character after breaking mental set.
KW - ERPs (event-related potentials)
KW - Mental set
KW - Problem solving
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78951490314&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78951490314&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00221-010-2468-z
DO - 10.1007/s00221-010-2468-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 21046365
AN - SCOPUS:78951490314
SN - 0014-4819
VL - 208
SP - 181
EP - 187
JO - Experimental Brain Research
JF - Experimental Brain Research
IS - 2
ER -