[ishiz]

There certainly seems to be something to it. This isn't a new phenomenon: there is a story that Archimedes around 250 BC couldn't solve a problem until he stopped working on it and took a bath. While this story may not be true, it does show that these "eureka moments" were common not just today but also thousands of years ago.

I'm not a psychologist but from what I understand, "dual process theories" state that humans have two distinct thought processes. System 1 is fast, instinctive, and unconscious; it answers questions like "2+2=?" System 2 is conscious, deep thought; it answers questions like "if 2x+3=17, x=?". System 1 is the default thought process, but it can be suppressed by system 2. I would love if anyone who knows more knows how this might be connected.

[Angostura]

To be fair, the problem Archimedes was stuck on was how to measure the volume of an irregular body. Immersing his irregular body in the bath kinda gave him a clue.

[tkxxx7]

Many meditation practices focus on how to objectively detach from and observe system 1 so that we can maintain control over 2