An exploratory study of EEG brain wave patterns while solving puzzles
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Brain Waves How the brain works while completing puzzles By Nathan Curtis, Davis Senior High School Student Davis, CA
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This is a presentation made by Nathan Curtis, a senior at Davis High School (Davis, CA) as part of the "Mindseum" panel at the annual 2014 World Future Conference of the World Future Society (July 21, 2014) in Orlando, FL: http://www.wfs.org/worldfuture-2014/worldfuture-conference-sectors/designing-curating-and-exploring-mindseum
Transcript of An exploratory study of EEG brain wave patterns while solving puzzles
Brain WavesHow the brain works while completing puzzles
By Nathan Curtis, Davis Senior High School StudentDavis, CA
To explore the brain wave (EEG) correlation between different ways of solving a puzzle…
With Referenc
e
Without Referenc
e
…and the stage of the puzzle that they are on.
Finishing UpHalfway ThroughJust Beginning
GOAL:
?
Tested On Eight Subjects:
Once with a reference, once without
ATTENTION
RELAXATION
Just Beginnin
g
Just Beginnin
g
Halfway Through
Halfway Through
Finishing Up
Finishing Up
Just Beginnin
g
Halfway Through
Finishing Up
ALPHABETA
GAMMA
The Puzzle & Setup• Ceaco Kids Dinosaur Puzzle• 100 pieces• 11” by 14” end result
• Took too long for subject to complete entire puzzle
• Modified setup so that the borders werealready in place
• 64 Border Pieces; Subject must place 36
1.5” x 1.5”
• Neurosky Mindwave to measure EEG brain waves
• WujiBrainwave & WujiTech to record and graph the data
• Took 6 recordings of each subject:• First three were taken while the subject had
no idea what the puzzle depicted• 12 pieces per measurement: Pieces 65-
76 (Beginning), Pieces 77-88 (middle), Pieces 89-100 (end)
• Pieces 1-64 already in the border• Last test was taken once subject knew what
the image looked like. • They were allowed to use a complete image
as a reference the second time. • Ages range from 18-76
Results: Attention
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Jim (Age 53) Mack (Age 17)
JUST BEGINNING: Pieces 65-76
Results: Attention
FINISHING UP: Pieces 89-100
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Jackson (Age 17)Jim (Age 53)
Results: Attention
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Laura (Age 48) Nathan (Age 17)
JUST BEGINNING: Pieces 65-76
Results: Relaxation
JUST BEGINNING: Pieces 65-76
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Dan (Age 48) Jackson (Age 17)
Results: Relaxation
Halfway Through: Pieces 77-88
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Laura (Age 48) Allan (Age 78)
Results: Relaxation
Finishing Up: Pieces 89-100
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Dan (Age 48) Allan (Age )
Results: Alpha/ Beta/ GammaHalfway Through: Pieces 65-76
With Reference (2nd Time)Without Reference (1st Time)
Nathan (Age 17)
Jackson (Age 17)
Mack (Age 17)
AlphaBetaGamma
Results: Alpha/ Beta/ GammaHalfway Through: Pieces 65-76
With Reference(2nd Time)
Without Reference(1st Time)
Jim (Age 54) Allan (Age 78)
AlphaBetaGamma
Conclusion:
• Attention• When beginning a puzzle, attention is highest when reference is present• When finishing a puzzle, attention is highest during the first time
• Relaxation• Presence of a reference does not change one’s relaxation• Relaxation varies from person to person
• Most likely just differences in the individual
• Alpha/ Beta/ Gamma• Among younger subjects, alpha/ beta/ gamma waves change dominance• Among older subjects, gamma is highest while alpha is the lowest
Questions:
Why are gamma EEG waves dominant for older subjects?
What characteristics of an individual would cause them to be more relaxed/ attentive while completing puzzles?
Why do alpha/ beta/ gamma EEG waves correlate so strongly?
