Abstract
Human memory retrieval is the core cognitive process of the human brain whenever it is processing the information. Less study has focused on exploring the neural correlates of the memory retrieval of scientific concepts when presented in word and picture modalities. Fewer studies have investigated the differences in the involved brain regions and how the brain dynamics in these regions would associate with the accuracy of the memory retrieval process. Therefore, this study specifically focused on investigating the human brain dynamics of participants when they retrieve physics concepts in word vs. pictorial modalities, and whether electroencephalogram (EEG) activities can predict the correctness of the retrieval of physics concepts. The results indicated that word modality induced a significant stronger right frontal theta augmentation than pictorial modality during the physics concepts retrieval process, whereas the picture modality induced a significantly greater right parietal alpha suppression than the word modality throughout the retrieval process spurred by the physics concept presentations. In addition, greater frontal midline theta augmentation was observed for incorrect responses than the correct responses during retrieve physics concepts. Moreover, the frontal midline theta power has greater negative predictive power for predicting the accuracy of physics concepts retrieval. In summary, the participants were more likely to retrieve physics concepts correctly if a lower amount of theta were allocated during the maintaining period from 2,000 ms through 3,500 ms before making responses. It provides insight for our future application of brain computer interface (BCI) in real-time science learning. This study implies that the lower frontal midline theta power is associated with a lower degree of cognitive control and active maintenance of representations as participants approach a correct answer.
Highlights
The memory encoding and retrieval processes are the essential cognitive processes of the human brain whenever it is processing any type of information
The results of the right frontal average event-related spectral perturbation analysis (ERSP) image (Figures 2D,E) and ERSP transforms (Figure 2K) showed that the theta band power increased after the stimulus onsets, with the power activation being maintained across the entire physics concept retrieval process until the go signal, regardless of the word or picture presentation modality
The bootstrap analysis of the picture and word modalities in the right frontal region showed that theta power was significantly stronger for the word modality than that for the picture modality marked in red color (p < 0.01; Figure 2J)
Summary
The memory encoding and retrieval processes are the essential cognitive processes of the human brain whenever it is processing any type of information. Memory retrieval is important in determining whether or not humans can successfully retrieve the relevant information they have encoded into their long-term memory (LTM). That is whether they can reactivate and access the information stored in the LTM and make further connections among different pieces of information. The pre-retrieval process can filter irrelevant information during a memory search and prepare for a retrieval attempt to occur. The effects of modality of presentation on human retrieving physics concepts would open a new window to facilitate students’ scientific understanding as well as advance ways of science teaching
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