Investigation on EEG pattern differences in males and females during convergent and divergent thinking

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1 Available online at Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 ( 2012 ) WCES 2012 Investigation on EEG pattern differences in males and females during convergent and divergent thinking Morteza Andalib Kooraeim a, Mansour Bayrami b, Mohammad Ali Nazari b, Rasoul Heshmati c, Mahdi Moslemifar d a Young Researchers Club, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran b Faculty of Psychology and Education, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran c Faculty of Psychology and Education, Tehran University,Tehran, ,Iran d Faculty of Human Scences, Islamic Azad University,Saveh Branch, Tehran, Iran Abstract Introduction: researches in this field especially in neurological aspect. Several studies had shown that there are different results in EEG patterns of males and females. Therefore, this study examined the EEG pattern changes of males and females during convergent thinking (CT) and divergent thinking (DT) in comparison to the rest condition.methods: This study was a fundamentaltheoretical research with quasi experimental design. 34 subjects (19 boys and 15 girls) were chosen according to available sampling method by using a screening questionnaire. Each of them assigned in three conditions (rest, CT and DT). In the CT and DT conditions subjects were solved the tasks that were related to these two kinds of thinking but during rest condition they three conditions, EEG patterns were recorded from 19 scalp areas. The recorded EEG in theta band, were transformed into quantitative form (QEEG) by using neuroguide software and these quantities analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA method.results: descriptive results of this study had showed that coherence of EEG patterns in convergent thinking and divergent thinking are higher than rest condition. But there was no significant difference between these two kinds of thinking. Also the results of repeated measure ANOVA had shown that these 3 conditions had s in coherence patterns in two genders. Conclusion: The results probably are due to neglect the especial function of each hemispheres. Other probability that we can consider for these results is the thinking skills that basically have no biological difference. these results can provide a background for future studies about cognitive functions. Keywords: QEEG, Coherence, Convergent thinking, Divergent thinking. 1. Introduction The various researchers divided the thinking into different types, such as Guilford hypothesis (1967). He developed two types of the thinking among 120 compounds of mind patterns, that are convergent and divergent thinking. Convergent thinking uses stereotyped mental operations that converge on only one task solution. During divergent thinking many new ideas on some mental task are generated, implying that not only one solution may be Corresponding author: Rasoul Heshmati. Tel: ; fax: address: heshmatiras@ut.ac.ir Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uzunboylu Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. doi: /j.sbspro

2 Morteza Andalib Kooraeim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 ( 2012 ) correct. Thus, it is suggested that during just this kind of mental operation subjects use many unique ways in order to form creative products. So, it may be hypothesized that on the neurophysiological level convergent thinking could be accompanied with more spatial temporal limited interactions of neuronal assemblies between different brain areas in comparison with divergent thinking. Indeed, the higher EEG complexity during divergent than convergent thinking has been revealed recently, and was explained as the result of the concurrent activation of a greater number of independently oscillating processing units. The divergent thinking allow the person to go out of limited experiences and look at beyond of personal experiences. Also Guilford believed that in the divergent thinking a person can create a new thinking in a situation. The persons who have divergent thinking can break the limited thinking form and look at the phenomena by another view (Alavi, 1383). At present, the most important lever of research of the processing of brain cells can acquire by identifying electrical activities of brain that is the result of biochemistry activity of neurons and complicated relations between them (Ohadi,1377). The brain electrical activities are created by shouting brain neurons. EEG is a method of computer-brain relation that study the brain by the non-invasive method (Niedermeyer, 2004). The oscillations of natural EEG are on the range of frequencies. Frequency is one of the parameter of the brain function that are repetition of the waves in second. The Scientists created a division on these ranges of frequencies that are Delta (4-1 hz), Teta (4-8hz) Alpha (12-8hz), Beta (13-30hz), Gama (70-30hz) (Lawrence, 2003). The Teta waves, usually is observed in hypocampus and two stages of sleeping. Also this waves can be observed in anxiety state specially in disappointment. Teta has relationship with automation, inattentiveness, fantasy, dejection and anxiety (Blume, Kaibara, 1995). Also the slow EEG usually has relationship with complicated thinking, slow reaction time, and impulse control (Rossiter, 2000). The researches showed that the increase of the Coherence (the rate of relation of brain area with another) of brain waves between two different cortex areas can identify the relationship of these areas in cognitive processes (Petsche, Erlinger 1998). The results of some researches showed that women have lower hemisphere lateralization in flexibility thinking strategies than men. (Davidson, Schwartz, Pugash, Bromfield, 1976, Hausmann & Gunturkun, 1999). Also the researches showed that creative men identify by increasing of extension of coherence between hemisphere i 2 rhythm task in creative women is very extensive than men. (Razoumnikova, 2004). The results of Eysenck researches showed that the creativity is different in two genders. But the findings of Khosravany's research (1384) didn't show any significant difference between creativity in men and women. We can deduce that the level of creativity between two genders is ent and surely the difference observed in function of them is due to problem in development of creativity, then, research on determining the gender differences in neurological aspects is essential. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the different patterns of coherence of brain waves during convergent and divergent thinking in tow genders. 2. Method 2-2.population and sample: This study was a fundamental-theoretical research with quasi experimental design. In this research, dependent variable (brain wave patterns) was recorded after presenting independent variable (type of thinking). All students of Tabriz University in years were population of this research. The sample include 34 subjects (19 male and 15 female), that selected by available sampling method and assigned in 3 conditions of rest, convergent and divergent thinking. Amount of coherence in Teta rhythm recorded from 19 channels. the electrodes placed in interior, central and posterior areas and compared with each other.

3 2798 Morteza Andalib Kooraeim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 ( 2012 ) Measurement: Lateral predominance questionnaire: This questionnaire prepared by Sabouri Moghdam (1387). It includes 8 items that any item measures an aspect of lateral predominance. This questionnaire scored in 3 degrees of right uppermost, left uppermost and lack of lateral predominance. Subjects that have 7 items of 8 items with uppermost right were selected. Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG): We used Neuroscan amplifier and Electrocap that include 19 electrodes to record EEG, they are adopted with international systems. to do a quantitative analyze, we used one complex mathematic process (FFT) that convert recorded waves to numbers, numbers to images and graphs. This process performed by Neuroguide software. Cannibal and missioners task: This task includes 3 missioners and 3 cannibal transportation by one boat from one side of river to other side of it. We want subjects to highlight that "how you can carry all cannibal and missioners from one side to other side of river? But the boat can just carry 2 people and number of cannibal should not be more than missioners in any side". Least required movement to solve this task is 11 movements (Claridge, McDonald, 2009). This task utilized to create convergent thinking. Number computation task: In this task, we want subjects to start with number 6 and write continues numbers with 7 interval and express solution after 3 minute. This task utilized to create divergent thinking. Snake computation task: We want subjects to answer this question: "there are 100 poisonous snakes in wood, how we can measure the length of snakes? Write any way that you think". This task utilized to create divergent thinking. subscale of thinking creative test similarities of Valach and Cogan: In this research, we used subscale of thinking creative test similarities of Valach and Cogan. This subscale have high reliability coefficient (.86) and less relation with intelligence test (Cropley and Mansley, 1969). We present pair words to them in this test and want to say any similarity that find among them. We gave 2 minute for any pair word. This task utilized to create divergent thinking. 3. Findings Descriptive data are in table 1 about 3 studied conditions in 2 genders. As you can see the averages, coherence average of women were higher than men in all 3 condition. Also, average of 2 types of thinking is more than rest in two genders. But there is no difference among two types of thinking. Table 1: Descriptive statistics for the amount of time coherence situations studied in both genders Variables gender Mean Standard deviation N Rest state Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking male 27/28 4/05 19 female 33/41 7/88 15 Total 29/98 6/69 34 male 30/88 4/99 19 female 35/42 5/13 15 Total 32/88 5/47 34 male 30/78 7/51 19 female 35/12 6/51 15 Total 32/70 7/31 34

4 Morteza Andalib Kooraeim et al. / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 ( 2012 ) Table 2: Mauchly`test of sphericity for condition variable in tow genders Within subject Effect Mauchly` test Approx. Chisquare Situation 0/97 0/ Df sig epsilon Greenhouse- Huyuh- Lower- Geisser feldt bound 0/97 1/00 0/5 We analyzed difference of coherence in 3 conditions for 2 genders and used repeated measure analysis of variance. Mauchly`test of sphericity used to study covariance equality. Table 2 shows that covariance is equal (X2(2)= 3.86, P>.05). So, within subjects effects test was performed assuming equality of covariance. The results is shown in Table 3. Table 3: Test of within subject effect of situation variable in two genders source test SS df MS F Sig. Eta coefficient square Covariance situation 16/ /017 assumed 0/50 0/61 0/015 Covariance error 1021/ /95 assumed Table 3 shows that there is not any difference among brain waves pattern of 2 genders in 3 conditions (F (2,64)=0.50, P>.05). 3 studied conditions in all brain areas show any coherence difference amount of brain waves. 4. Discussion and conclusion Descriptive results of present research showed that coherence rate of divergent and convergent thinking in two genders was more than rest state. T between two types of thinking coherence. This finding indicate that independent variable created differences in brain waves. Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that coherence rate among three conditions of communications in men and women do consistent with fingings of Mratindle, Hainesfus (1978) and Hosseinian (1386). Their findings showed that ficant difference in brain wave between men and women thinking. Also it is non-consistent with results of Rasominco. He showed that convergent thinking of women cause Teta increase but in men it cause Teta decrease. Several studies have examined brain structure and function and indicated differences in several areas of brain and hemisphere in two genders, so probably these results is due to ignore the difference between the two hemispheres in the two sexes, because. Researches showed that men totally use right hemisphere more than women and women totally use left hemisphere more than men (Khodapanahi, 1382). Khosravani (1384) showed that the lack of use and improvement by suitable tools in any gender to develop creative potential power will be obstacle of creative aptitude. So, we can deduce that thinking ability level of woman and men was naturally different and maybe the difference in their function, because of lack of equal development of thinking ability in genders during their growth. more exact researches about neurology can be determinant in this issue. Lake of natural difference in ability and observed difference in two types of thinking in two genders due to upbringing is other explanation for the lack of the difference in brain waves in 2 types of thinking of genders. Some experts explain that gender differences in cognitive level can be results of individuals culture and social stereotype (Abra and Valentino-French 1991; Cangelosi and Schaefer, 1991).

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