Dissociated brain potentials for two calculation strategies.
Event-related brain potentials were used to investigate the shortcut calculation strategy and nonshortcut calculation strategy in performing addition using mental arithmetic. Results showed that the shortcut calculation strategy elicited a larger P220 than the nonshortcut calculation strategy in the 180-280 ms. Dipole source analysis of the difference wave (shortcut calculation minus nonshortcut calculation) indicated that a generator was localized in the posterior cingulate cortex, which reflected the evaluation effect of number in the use of the shortcut strategy. In the 320-500 ms time window, a greater N400 was found in the nonshortcut calculation as compared with the shortcut calculation. Dipole source analysis of the difference wave indicated that a generator was localized in the anterior cingulate cortex. The N400 might reflect the greater working memory load.
Luo
Wenbo
W
Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. wenbo9390@sina.com.cn
Liu
Dianzhi
D
He
Weiqi
W
Tao
Weidong
W
Luo
Yuejia
Y
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult