The location of the maximum amplitude focus of cortical evoked potential component N200 in subjects solving a maze problem

Abstract

The dependence of the efficiency of maze problem solution on the “commitment” of the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital cortices to the activity was studied. For this purpose, topographic neurophysiological characteristics of component N200 of cortical evoked potentials were determined and used to locate the maximum amplitude focus (MAF). Right-and left-handed subjects of both sexes (50 persons aged 18–23 years) were divided into five groups: (I) women with a low nonverbal IQ, (II) women with a high nonverbal IQ, (III) men with a low nonverbal IQ, (IV) men with a high nonverbal IQ, and (V) left-handed men with a high nonverbal IQ. In subjects from group III, a successful solution of a maze problem was associated with a high activity only in the occipital cortex. In groups II and V, in addition to the strong commitment of the occipital cortex, about the same activity was observed in the frontal cortex. In groups I and IV, and MAF appeared irregularly if at all, which may have accounted for the low efficiency of maze problem solution in these subjects.