Individual differences in concept learning and brain event-related potentials

An irrelevant auditory probe procedure was employed to evoke brain event-related potentials (ERPs) in 56 males while they learned concepts presented to them in study booklets. A mastery test was administered to assess concept acquisition. Ss were divided into two groups according to whether or not their achievement test results were above or below the average score for all learners. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was computed for each presentation page employing as multiple dependent measures ERP amplitudes which corresponded to specific concepts. MANOVAs and their subsequent statistics revealed that, as theorized, ERPs evoked at the right frontal, temporal and parietal, as well as the left parietal, regions, significantly distinguished below-from above-average concept learners. As hypothesized, poorer concept learners engaged these hemispheric sites less, and manifested more variability at them, than better learners. It was established that the frontal, temporal and parietal areas which are chiefly implicated in crystallized intelligence are engaged during the actual process of concept learning itself.     

Event-related-potential (ERP) correlates of cognitive styles,abilities and aptitudes

Fifty, right-handed males were given 11 psychometric tests of cognitive styles, abilities and aptitudes. Visual (VERP), auditory (AERP) and bimodal (BERP) brain event-related-potential (ERP) amplitudes were recorded from each of these Ss. Canonical and product-moment correlations were computed. These analyses established that VERPs and BERPs elicited in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital regions were related to abilities and aptitudes: general aptitude, reading and verbal comprehension and spatial ability; and a cognitive style: field dependence-independence. The results demonstrated the construct validity of ERPs as indicators of individual differences in cognitive characteristics, especially crystallized and fluid intelligence.