CortexLit

CortexLit tool · Learning and attention · Runs offline · No account

Stuck Problem Triage

Work out whether your problem needs a break, a restatement, or help from someone else.

← Back to the article · See the evidence

This tool gives general information based on the research summarised in Stepping Away From a Stuck Problem. It is not a medical device, does not diagnose, and does not replace advice from your clinician.

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  • recommendation with reasoning
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  • all citations and cautions


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Commercial disclosure: optional paid Plus tier; all evidence, cautions and the main result are free. No affiliate links, no sponsors.







What this is based on


Every output names at least one verified PubMed source. Identifiers were verified on 2026-10-11 in an earlier batch and carried over into this build; they were not re-queried here, and no retraction database was checked. Verification was at abstract level.


Sio 2009
Sio UN, Ormerod TC. Does incubation enhance problem solving? A meta-analytic review. Psychol Bull. 2009;135(1):94-120. doi:10.1037/a0014212. PMID: 19210055.
PMID 19210055 · systematic review meta analysis · weight 1.0 · abstract level
Weng 2025
Weng L, Yu J, Lv Z, et al. Effects of wakeful rest on memory consolidation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychon Bull Rev. 2025;32(5):1937-1968. doi:10.3758/s13423-025-02665-x. PMID: 40087245.
PMID 40087245 · systematic review meta analysis · weight 1.0 · abstract level
Seban 2026
Seban P, Šikl R, Prošek T, et al. Wakeful rest and memory consolidation in an ecologically valid educational setting: no benefit over distractor tasks. Psychol Res. 2026;90(2):42. doi:10.1007/s00426-026-02265-x. PMID: 41746415.
PMID 41746415 · randomized controlled trial · weight 0.8 · abstract level


Limits: The recommendation is editorial judgement, not a measured outcome. Incubation effects come from laboratory studies and are moderated by break content and conditions.







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