creators_name: Lamm, Claus
creators_name: Bauer, Herbert
creators_name: Vitouch, Oliver
creators_name: Gstättner, Reinhard
type: journalp
datestamp: 1999-08-31
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:53:41
metadata_visibility: show
title: Differences in the ability to process a visuo-spatial task are reflected in event-related slow cortical potentials of human subjects.
ispublished: pub
subjects: behav-neuro-sci
subjects: brain-img
subjects: neuro-physio
subjects: physio-psy
full_text_status: public
keywords: neuronal efficiency; ability; spatial cognition; individualdifferences; event-related potentials; slow potentials;human cognition; EEG; ERP; SPT; psychophysiology
abstract: Recent Positron Emission (PET) and EEG studies suggest that higher ability in a cognitive task is associated with a more efficient neuronal processing of this task. However, the validity and generalizability of these studies is limited for several reasons. We investigated 20 male and 18 female human subjects with good vs. poor spatial ability performing a visuo-spatial task (cube test). Processing-related slow event-related potentials were recorded via 22 electrodes, evenly distributed over the scalp. Significant differences between good and poor performers were found in both sexes: Poor subjects showed higher activity in the parietal region, and their topography was more extended into fronto-central regions. Since the amount and topography of brain activity may vary considerably depending on subjects' ability, we conclude that careful (experimental) control of task-specific ability of subjects is mandatory for cognitive neuroscience studies.
date: 1999-08
date_type: published
publication: Neuroscience Letters
volume: 269
pagerange: 137-140
refereed: TRUE
citation:   Lamm, Claus and Bauer, Herbert and Vitouch, Oliver and Gstättner, Reinhard  (1999) Differences in the ability to process a visuo-spatial task are reflected in event-related slow cortical potentials of human subjects.  [Journal (Paginated)]     
document_url: http://cogprints.org/117/1/nsl_finalversion.html