Muskee, A. (2012) Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Induced Changes in Mathematical Reasoning Influenced by Mathematical Competence. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Introduction: Number processing is an important cognitive function, which is mediated by the parietal lobes, particularly the inferior parietal sulcus (IPS). There are thought be different cognitive operations, or routes, which are employed to solve calculation problems. The direct route involves the retrieval of arithmetic problems from rote verbal memory, mainly used for multiplication. The indirect route involves quantitative manipulations, mainly used for subtraction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique that can alter the membrane potential and therefore different cognitive functions. The specific aim of this study was to determine whether tDCS applied to the parietal cortex can enhance mathematical reasoning. Materials & Methods: Twelve healthy individuals performed three tasks (multiplication, subtraction and a numerical Stroop task), with the digits 1-9. A within-subject design with three stimulation sessions: right anodal-left cathodal (RA-LC), right cathodal-left anodal (RC-LA), and sham, was used. The relevant study measures were reaction time (ms) and accuracy (proportion of correct answers). Results: For subtraction accuracy, participants did not perform better, but strikingly they performed worse during real stimulation, compared to sham. The different types of montages led to opposite responses to tDCS in participants who performed better compared to worse performers. Interestingly, during real stimulation participants seemed to get worse on hard subtraction problems and better on hard multiplication problems. In the numerical Stroop data, participants performed better during RC-LA stimulation, compared to both RA-LC and sham stimulation. Conclusion: This study revealed some interesting results, especially in the subtraction accuracy data and the numerical Stroop task data. The study was possibly underpowered to detect all effects and interactions. Further research is needed to confirm the effects of tDCS on number processing and mathematical competence.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Thesis) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Jong, Dr. B.M. de University Medical Center Groningen |
| Supervisor name: | Hamilton, Dr. R.H. University of Pennsylvania |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Jun 2020 11:04 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jun 2020 11:04 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2373 |
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