DIFFERENCES IN EEG ALPHA-ACTIVITY BETWEEN GIFTED AND NON-IDENTIFIED INDIVIDUALS - INSIGHTS INTO PROBLEM-SOLVING

The study investigated differences in electroencephalography (EEG) alp ha activity between gifted and non-identified students. Seventeen gift ed and 17 non-identified students. participated in the experiment. The ir EEG was recorded while they solved four problems. Two measures were used: 1) an asymmetry index or differences in hemispheric activity an d 2) the overall difference between a relaxed mental state and problem solving. The findings can be summarized as follows: First, gifted stu dents in a relaxed mental condition showed greater left hemispheric ac tivation than did non-identified students. In contrast, during problem ,solving, non-identified students showed greater left hemispheric acti vity than did gifted students. Second, gifted students exhibited a hig her overall hemispheric activation in a relaxed mental state and explo ring the problem, and a lower activation when problem solving was invo lved, than did non-identified students.