High-resolution EEG analysis of power spectral density maps and coherence networks in a proportional reasoning task. - Inria - Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique Access content directly
Journal Articles Brain Topography: a Journal of Cerebral Function and Dynamics Year : 2012

High-resolution EEG analysis of power spectral density maps and coherence networks in a proportional reasoning task.

Giovanni Vecchiato
  • Function : Author
Ana Susac
  • Function : Author
Stavroula Margeti
  • Function : Author
Maja Planinic
  • Function : Author
Fabio Babiloni

Abstract

Proportional reasoning is very important logical skill required in mathematics and science problem solving as well as in everyday life decisions. However, there is a lack of studies on neurophysiological correlates of proportional reasoning. To explore the brain activity of healthy adults while performing a balance scale task, we used high-resolution EEG techniques and graph-theory based connectivity analysis. After unskilled subjects learned how to properly solve the task, their cortical power spectral density (PSD) maps revealed an increased parietal activity in the beta band. This indicated that subjects started to perform calculations. In addition, the number of inter-hemispheric connections decreased after learning, implying a rearrangement of the brain activity. Repeated performance of the task led to the PSD decrease in the beta and gamma bands among parietal and frontal regions along with a synchronization of lower frequencies. These findings suggest that repetition led to a more automatic task performance. Subjects were also divided in two groups according to their scores on the test of logical thinking (TOLT). Although no group differences in the accuracy and reaction times were found, EEG data showed higher activity in the beta and gamma bands for the group that scored better on TOLT. Learning and repetition induced changes in the pattern of functional connectivity were evident for all frequency bands. Overall, the results indicated that higher frequency oscillations in frontal and parietal regions are particularly important for proportional reasoning.

Domains

Bioengineering
No file

Dates and versions

hal-01443273 , version 1 (23-01-2017)

Identifiers

  • HAL Id : hal-01443273 , version 1
  • PUBMED : 23053602

Cite

Giovanni Vecchiato, Ana Susac, Stavroula Margeti, Fabrizio de Vico Fallani, Anton Giulio Maglione, et al.. High-resolution EEG analysis of power spectral density maps and coherence networks in a proportional reasoning task.. Brain Topography: a Journal of Cerebral Function and Dynamics, 2012, 26 (2), pp.303-14. ⟨hal-01443273⟩
78 View
0 Download

Altmetric

Share

Gmail Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More