The (meta-)memory superiority effect of induced insight on item memory and associative memory: the role of association appropriateness.

Previous research has consistently revealed that learning via induced insight yields a better memory of solutions than non-insightful conditions. However, it is yet to be determined whether associative appropriateness, a critical component of creative insight, plays a role in this superiority effect of induced insight on both item memory (solutions and problems) and associative memory, in both enhancing remembering and slowing forgetting at the object level, as well as in enhancing metamemory monitoring. Across three experiments, participants either had sudden comprehension (forming appropriate associations) or incomprehension (forming inappropriate associations) of riddles and received immediate and delayed recognition tests. The results indicated that the appropriate (vs. inappropriate) condition yielded higher recognition rates, shorter recognition times, and smaller decreases in recognition rates, as well as higher retrospective confidence ratings, together with decreased metamemory bias and increased metamemory accuracy, on solutions, problems, and their associations. These findings demonstrate the role of associative appropriateness in the (meta-)memory superiority effect of induced insight on item memory and associative memory from multiple perspectives.