Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

9-10-2010

Abstract

This study tested the relationship between short-term neuroplasticity and individual differences in intelligence. Twenty-two participants completed cognitive testing and a visual EEG experiment involving exposures to repeated and novel stimuli. Time-frequency analyses of phase-locked (evoked) and non-phase-locked (induced) power showed a small effect of decreasing evoked/induced theta (4-8 Hz) ratios over stimulus exposures, irrespective of condition. Hypotheses that intelligence would relate to an increase in this ratio over exposures were not supported. However, the magnitude of the ratio positively correlated with intelligence; while the amount of induced gamma (30-50Hz) activation pre- to post-stimulus was highly inversely related to g. Results suggest that transient changes in neural network phase strongly relate to intelligence in physiological measurements acquired over brief intervals.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Hamilton, Derek

Second Committee Member

Jung, Rex

Third Committee Member

Tesche, Claudia

Fourth Committee Member

Thoma, Robert

Fifth Committee Member

Weisend, Michael

Sponsors

University of New Mexico Department of Psychology Quad-L Fund

Language

English

Keywords

Intellect--Physiological aspects, Neuroplasticity, Theta rhythm, Electroencephalography.

Document Type

Dissertation

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