EEG mutual information during a serial subtraction task
- Suraiya Husain,
- Vasiliki Tsirka,
- Luis Diambra,
- Alberto Capurro
![](https://d197for5662m48.cloudfront.net/assets/icons/omniauth/orcid-ca37582cd91a671ed5cec57770e0e96c01b4b79b8b5b75d8598fc1ddac18c974.svg)
Vasiliki Tsirka
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Author ProfileAbstract
Mathematical reasoning involves the activation of frontal and parietal
lobes, due to the requirement of working memory, attention, and
retrieval mechanisms. Efficient activation of different brain networks,
as suggested by previous EEG studies, is related to the level of
mathematical ability. We performed a paired comparison of mutual
information and power spectrum during math calculations against rest in
two groups of participants with different levels of mathematical
competence, defined as good and bad counters. Results were displayed
through planar head diagrams showing EEG derivations as nodes connected
by edges representing significant increases or decreases in mutual
information. Power spectrum analysis revealed that good counters
presented significant cortical activation in delta, theta, beta and
gamma frequency bands and strong alpha blocking during math in
comparison to rest. Mutual information analysis showed coupling
increases involving more edges, which were topographically widespread in
subjects with less arithmetical ability. Decreases in mutual information
were prominent in good counters in the beta and alpha frequency bands,
while bad counters showed both coupling and uncoupling the alpha band.
In both arithmetical ability groups, decoupling was prominent in the
prefrontal and parietal areas, particularly in the theta, alpha and beta
bands, confirming the importance of frontoparietal activity during
mathematical reasoning. Our results are in line with the neural
efficiency hypothesis and indicate that those with greater mathematical
competence present activation of fewer edges in defined cortical areas,
whereas those with lower proficiency require the recruitment of
additional edges to complete the task.Submitted to European Journal of Neuroscience Submission Checks Completed
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