How well can storage capacity, executive control, and fluid reasoning explain insight problem solving

Previous studies have found discrepant results on the relationship between insight problem solving and the processes underlying analytic thinking: storage capacity, executive control (two components of working memory; WM), as well as fluid reasoning. Some research showed that WM and/or reasoning are positively related to insight, supporting the “nothing-special” account, whereas other studies demonstrated null or negative relationships favoring the “special-process” view. This study examined a large sample with a battery of insight, reasoning, and WM tasks, to estimate the pattern of links between investigated constructs using structural equation modeling. WM and reasoning together explained about two thirds of the variance in insight. Both WM components similarly contributed to insight. WM's contribution was mediated by reasoning. These results support the nothing-special view. However, after WM variance was partialed out, the link between insight and reasoning substantially weakened, that makes room for the special-process view. Both accounts can be integrated in the view that insight is “nothing special with special add-ons” – the latter understood as the processes and strategies specific only to insight problem solving. •Working memory explains about a third of total variance in insight.•Both its storage and executive components similarly contribute to insight.•Reasoning and working memory jointly predict two thirds of insight variance.•“Nothing special with special add-ons” account of insight is proposed.