Frontal theta/beta-ratio (TBR) as potential biomarker for attentional control during reading in healthy females
Frontal theta/beta-ratio (TBR) as potential biomarker for attentional control during reading in healthy females
Author(s): Elise K. Swart, Thijs M. J. Nielen, Shelley Shaul, Maria T. Sikkema-de JongSubject(s): Gender Studies, Cognitive Psychology, Methodology and research technology
Published by: Editura Asociației de Științe Cognitive din România (ASCR)
Keywords: attentional control; mind wandering; reading comprehension; EEG; theta/beta ratio (TBR);
Summary/Abstract: The aim of the present study was to expand previous research on the value of frontal theta/beta-ratio as a state measure of attentional control, by applying this measure during reading. Healthy female undergraduate students (N = 24) read two texts (with and without nonsense words), self-reported mind wandering during reading and filled in questionnaires about attentional control in daily life. Frontal theta/beta-ratios during the baseline phase and during reading were strongly related. The average frontal theta/beta-ratio during reading predicted reading comprehension of the text with nonsense words and fully mediated the relationship between frontal theta/beta-ratio during the baseline and reading comprehension. Fluctuations in frontal theta/beta-ratio during reading were related to frontal theta/beta-ratio during baseline and to self-reported mind wandering during reading for the text with nonsense words. Results show that frontal theta/beta-ratio is a promising state measure of attentional control during reading. Replication in other samples and with different texts is needed to better understand its potential.
Journal: Cognition, Brain, Behavior. An Interdisciplinary Journal
- Issue Year: XXIV/2020
- Issue No: 3
- Page Range: 187-211
- Page Count: 26
- Language: English
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