I wasn't necessarily bad at solving problems before. I think it just opened my mind to more avenues of attacking problems.

After hallucinating to a point where your thoughts influence your vision, you have a different relationship with perception. It's not something easily explained to people that have not gone through a similar same experience.

When on any sort of hallucinogen I never though I could solve math problems or computer problems. Quite the opposite really, I was almost useless at the computer and getting simple things like running winamp's screensaver seemed like a chore. The mind is easily distracted and literally thinks at speeds that is above average. I remember playing Dead or Alive and being able to literally see the game moving in slow motion and completely kicking the computers ass. Under normal circumstances I was never as good.

The whole idea being, experiencing a different reality opens the mind to a whole different set of possibilities. Things like what is a memory? Is there really a difference in experiencing something in a dream vs real life? You are what you sense which is all in your head. This is often why it is seen as a spiritual journey.