November 26, 2021
Kadi Tulver, Karl Kristjan Kaup, Ruben Laukkonen et al.
16 citations
preprint
Insight, the sudden understanding of a solution or idea, is not only central to creative problem-solving but also plays a key role in psychotherapy, meditation, the emergence of delusions in schizophrenia, and the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. This integrative review draws on literature from multiple fields to examine the event of insight, its prerequisites, and its consequences. It highlights commonalities and differences across these domains, aiming to bridge gaps between disparate research traditions and inspire interdisciplinary efforts to understand this core cognitive process.
July 5, 2022
Kristjan Kaup, Madis Vasser, Kadi Tulver et al.
7 citations
preprint
A 2-day virtual reality intervention called Psyrreal, designed to mimic the phenomenological components of psychedelic experiences, combined with psychological support, led to significant decreases in depressive symptoms at a 2-week follow-up in ten participants with mild-to-moderate depression. The intervention also appeared to promote insight and alterations in the sense of self in some people, based on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. These preliminary results suggest potential for VR experiences in treating depressive symptoms and warrant further research.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2023
Karl Kristjan Kaup, Madis Vasser, Kadi Tulver et al.
3 citations
correction
No Summary
May 28, 2023
Timo Siimon, Kadi Tulver, Kristjan Kaup et al.
2 citations
preprint
A psychedelic virtual reality environment, which replicates visual content experienced under the influence of psychedelics, helped people stuck on a real-life creative problem reach new insights more effectively than a control VR environment. The thematic analysis indicated that the psychedelic VR supported several aspects of creative insight, likely by relaxing the person's fixed assumptions about their problem. The results are encouraging but need to be tested in larger studies.
February 12, 2024
Kadi Tulver, Kristjan Kaup, Jaan Aru
preprint
A new framework proposes that diverse mental breakthroughs—from everyday problem-solving insights to profound personal transformations—share common mechanisms of representational change. The model identifies three core components—tension, altered salience, and enhanced flexibility—as prerequisites for cognitive restructuring, interacting in an iterative cycle that influences insight emergence. The intensity and impact of an 'aha-moment' depend on how central the conflict is within one's conceptual landscape and the degree to which existing mental models are challenged. Drawing on psychotherapy, contemplative science, and psychedelic research, this theoretical account aims to unify explanations of insight phenomena across disciplines.