Dimensional complexity and power spectral measures of the EEG during functional versus predicative problem solving

Fractal dimension of EEG signals and heart dynamics in discrete emotional states

In this study, we explored the fractal dimension (FD; a measure of signal complexity) of 28 EEG channels with positive and negative emotional states. The EEG of participants and their ECG were registered while watching short video clips that induced fear, disgust, humour, or neutral emotions. In order to better understand the nature of these emotions, the Higuchi FD of EEG segments and the heart rate variability (HRV) of the ECG associated with each emotion were obtained. Our results exhibited similar patterns of results with both measures. Humour elicited the highest FD scores in most EEG channels and the highest HRV, while fear, among all emotions, produced the lowest scores in both measures. These results may contribute to the understanding of the relationship between cortical and heart dynamics and their role on emotion perception.

EEG dynamics reflect the distinct cognitive process of optic problem solving

This study explores the changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity associated with the performance of solving an optics maze problem. College students (N = 37) were instructed to construct three solutions to the optical maze in a Web-based learning environment, which required some knowledge of physics. The subjects put forth their best effort to minimize the number of convexes and mirrors needed to guide the image of an object from the entrance to the exit of the maze. This study examines EEG changes in different frequency bands accompanying varying demands on the cognitive process of providing solutions. Results showed that the mean power of θ, α1, α2, and β1 significantly increased as the number of convexes and mirrors used by the students decreased from solution 1 to 3. Moreover, the mean power of θ and α1 significantly increased when the participants constructed their personal optimal solution (the least total number of mirrors and lens used by students) compared to their non-personal optimal solution. In conclusion, the spectral power of frontal, frontal midline and posterior theta, posterior alpha, and temporal beta increased predominantly as the task demands and task performance increased.

Nonlinear dynamical analysis of EEG and MEG: review of an emerging field

Many complex and interesting phenomena in nature are due to nonlinear phenomena. The theory of nonlinear dynamical systems, also called 'chaos theory', has now progressed to a stage, where it becomes possible to study self-organization and pattern formation in the complex neuronal networks of the brain. One approach to nonlinear time series analysis consists of reconstructing, from time series of EEG or MEG, an attractor of the underlying dynamical system, and characterizing it in terms of its dimension (an estimate of the degrees of freedom of the system), or its Lyapunov exponents and entropy (reflecting unpredictability of the dynamics due to the sensitive dependence on initial conditions). More recently developed nonlinear measures characterize other features of local brain dynamics (forecasting, time asymmetry, determinism) or the nonlinear synchronization between recordings from different brain regions. Nonlinear time series has been applied to EEG and MEG of healthy subjects during no-task resting states, perceptual processing, performance of cognitive tasks and different sleep stages. Many pathologic states have been examined as well, ranging from toxic states, seizures, and psychiatric disorders to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Cre1utzfeldt-Jakob's disease. Interpretation of these results in terms of 'functional sources' and 'functional networks' allows the identification of three basic patterns of brain dynamics: (i) normal, ongoing dynamics during a no-task, resting state in healthy subjects; this state is characterized by a high dimensional complexity and a relatively low and fluctuating level of synchronization of the neuronal networks; (ii) hypersynchronous, highly nonlinear dynamics of epileptic seizures; (iii) dynamics of degenerative encephalopathies with an abnormally low level of between area synchronization. Only intermediate levels of rapidly fluctuating synchronization, possibly due to critical dynamics near a phase transition, are associated with normal information processing, whereas both hyper-as well as hyposynchronous states result in impaired information processing and disturbed consciousness.

Broad-Perspective Perceptual Disorder of the Right Hemisphere

Traditional accounts of right-posterior brain injury describe a syndrome of low-level perceptual sequelae producing marked acute dependency and transient safety concerns. The syndrome is also held to spare cognition and to carry a generally favorable long-term prognosis. The present paper reviews publications and anecdotal data that challenge this picture. Recent theoretical expositions and empirical studies stipulate three major cognitive functions of the right posterior association cortex: processing novel input, guiding reactions to emergencies, and anticipating consequences. Appearing benign after acute recovery, the impairment of these processes produces vocational, social and marital dysfunctions that increase as a function of chronicity, ultimately becoming more broadly disabling than focal injuries in other cortical loci. The unique symptom picture and serious implications suggest that the long-term syndrome should be labeled (Broad-Perspective Perceptual Disorder) and incorporated in future clinical taxonomies, underscoring the need for extraordinary long-term assistance and specialized therapeutics. Procedures for assessment and differential diagnosis are outlined.

Die Entwicklung räumlicher Zahlenrepräsentationen und Rechenfertigkeiten bei Kindern

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Die Repräsentation der Größe von Zahlen in einem von links nach rechts orientierten mentalen Zahlenstrahl wurde bei Erwachsenen mit dem SNARC-Effektes dargestellt (Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes: schnellere Reaktion linke Hand bei kleinen Zahlen und rechte Hand bei großen Zahlen; Dehaene, Bossini & Giraux; 1993 ). Fragestellung: Die Studie untersucht die Frage, ob SNARC-Effekte (SE) schon bei Kindern der 2. Klasse nachweisbar sind und welche Zusammenhänge zu Rechenleistungen bestehen. Methode: Untersucht wurden N = 113 Kinder aus einer repräsentativen Stichprobe aus dem Kanton Zürich. Die Überprüfung von Fertigkeiten der Zahlenverarbeitung erfolgte longitudinal im Kindergarten und in der 2. Klasse. Ebenfalls zum zweiten Testzeitpunkt erfolgte die Durchführung des computergestützten SNARC-Paradigmas. Ergebnisse/Diskussion: Etwa ein Drittel der Kinder zeigten einen SE. Über die gesamte Stichprobe ließ sich kein signifikanter Einfluss des SE auf die Testleistung nachweisen, es besteht jedoch eine signifikante Wechselwirkung mit dem Geschlecht. Bei Knaben korreliert der SE positiv, bei Mädchen negativ mit der Testleistung. Die Ergebnisse werden in Hinblick auf geschlechtsspezifische Aspekte der Entwicklung kognitiver Denkstile diskutiert.

Functional correlations of spatial quantitative EEG and intelligences in a nonalphabetical language group

This study investigated any functional correlations between intelligences and spatially recorded quantitative electroencephalograms (QEEGs) in a nonalphabetical language group. Participants, between 6 and 8 years old, were sampled in a teaching hospital located at the central Taiwan region. The Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III) intelligence test and quantitative electroencephalograph recording procedures were both administrated to collect data. Intelligences were divided into two categories, verbal and performance intelligences, for statistical investigations. Statistical analyses of the noncontaminated QEEG dataset investigated the differentiability of each frequency on a single cortical region and coherence between cortical regions. Low QEEG frequencies were found to have a significant correlation with intelligences on some cortical regions. Coherence between symmetric cortical regions was found to be an important factor in predicting intelligences. Results showed the feasibility of functional brain mapping in the particular language population.