The influence of implicit cue on information processing in anagram solving task

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study, aimed at exploring the influence of implicit cues on early “automatic” processes (first 400 ms) in anagram solving task. During six experimental series participants were shown two type of stimuli: anagrams and pseudowords in random order. Participants had to discriminate the type of stimuli, solve the anagrams and response (by key pressing), whether it was insight solution or not. In the first five series pseudowords had a special cue (letters “A” and “O”). There were no such cues in anagrams. In the last experimental series there were no cues on both pseudowords and anagrams. The participants did not know about such differences. The electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded during this study. It was shown that discrimination time decreased from the first to the fifth series, but increase in the last series. The number of correct discriminations increased from the first to the fifth series, and decreased in the last one. EEG analysis showed significant difference in amplitude of late positive component on interval 200 to 300 ms after stimuli between anagrams and pseudowords. This findings may be explained by activation of semantic network, which is involved in anagram solution processing. This work was supported by grant RSCF № 14-18-03773.