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Mental rotation and fluid intelligence: A brain potential analysis

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  • Varriale, Vincenzo
  • van der Molen, Maurits W.
  • De Pascalis, Vilfredo

Abstract

The current study examined the relation between mental rotation and fluid intelligence using performance measures augmented with brain potential indices. Participants took a Raven's Progressive Matrices Test and performed on a mental rotation task presenting upright and rotated letter stimuli (60°, 120° or 180°) in normal and mirror image requiring a response execution or inhibition depending on instructions. The performance results showed that the linear slope relating performance accuracy, but not speed, to the angular rotation of the stimuli was related to individual differences in fluid intelligence. For upright stimuli, P3 amplitude recorded at frontal and central areas was positively associated with fluid intelligence scores. The mental rotation process was related to a negative shift of the brain potential recorded over the parietal cortex. The linear function relating the amplitude of the rotation-related negativity to rotation angle was associated with fluid intelligence. The slope was more pronounced for high- relative to low-ability participants suggesting that the former flexibly adjust their expenditure of mental effort to the mental rotation demands while the latter ones are less proficient in doing so.

Suggested Citation

  • Varriale, Vincenzo & van der Molen, Maurits W. & De Pascalis, Vilfredo, 2018. "Mental rotation and fluid intelligence: A brain potential analysis," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 146-157.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:69:y:2018:i:c:p:146-157
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2018.05.007
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Euler, Matthew J. & Schubert, Anna-Lena, 2021. "Recent developments, current challenges, and future directions in electrophysiological approaches to studying intelligence," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Renata Figueiredo Anomal & Daniel Soares Brandão & Silvia Beltrame Porto & Sóstenes Silva de Oliveira & Rafaela Faustino Lacerda de Souza & José de Santana Fiel & Bruno Duarte Gomes & Izabel Augusta H, 2020. "The role of frontal and parietal cortex in the performance of gifted and average adolescents in a mental rotation task," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Mole, Joseph & Foley, Jennifer & Shallice, Tim & Cipolotti, Lisa, 2021. "The left frontal lobe is critical for the AH4 fluid intelligence test," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. E Darcy Burgund, 2021. "Task-domain and hemisphere-asymmetry effects in cisgender and transmale individuals," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Varriale, Vincenzo & De Pascalis, Vilfredo & van der Molen, Maurits W., 2021. "Post-error slowing is associated with intelligence," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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