Event Related Brain Potentials and Cognitive Processing: Implications for Navy Training.
Abstract
This report describes the evaluation of a relatively new technology, the analysis of event related brain potentials (ERPs), as a possible means of improving Navy training. The subjects were 50 Navy recruits undergoing basic military training. Eight channels of visual, auditory, and bimodal ERP data were recorded for each subject from scalp contact electrodes. Microvolt standard deviation amplitude measures were computed. During the same test session, but not concurrently, a battery of cognitive style, aptitude, and ability paper-and-pencil tests were given to the subjects. The subjects were clustered into two groups, or types, based on the paper-and-pencil tests. Type 1 subjects represented a spatial processing group, while Type 2 represented a 'verbal processing' group. (Recent research indicates that the left hemisphere processes primarily verbal, analytic and sequential information, while the right hemisphere processes spatial, integrative or simultaneous information.) ERP variates were input to discriminant analysis to differentiate the two groups. No visual or bimodal ERP variates discriminated or validated the classification matrices. Auditory ERP variates differentiated (p < .01) and validated (p < .005) the two groups. Greater amplitude asymmetry areas were found with visual stimuli for the spatial group and with auditory stimuli for the 'verbal' group. Greater sensory interaction was found in the right hemisphere for the 'spatial' group and in the left hemisphere for the 'verbal' group. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA109019
Entities
People
- Gregory W. Lewis
- Jeffrey N. Froning
- Marlene Calder
- Pat-anthony Federico
Organizations
- Bureau of Naval Personnel