From neural oscillations to reasoning ability: Simulating the effect of the theta-to-gamma cycle length ratio on individual scores in a figural analogy test

Fluid Intelligence and the Cross-Frequency Coupling of Neuronal Oscillations

“…Then, they regressed individual scores in the subsequent digit STM task on the individually identified theta and gamma cycle lengths. The theta cycle was substantially longer (in line with Lisman & Idiart, 1995), and the gamma cycle was visibly shorter (in line with Chuderski & Andrelczyk, 2015), in more capacious participants. The theta-to-gamma cycle length ratio correlated with STM capacity at r = .79.…”

“…In order to demonstrate that individual differences in analogical reasoning ability, observed in a sample of 100 young adults, can be explained by a variation of the number of gamma cycles fitted in one theta cycle, Chuderski and Andrelczyk (2015) have developed the oscillatory model of a figural analogy test, which required discovering a number of geometric transformations that related two patterns, each consisting of several shapes. Then, the model had to apply these transformations to another pattern of shapes, in order to select one solution, which correctly matched the pattern, out of seven response options.…”

“…Most importantly, the theta-to-gamma cycle ratio (primarily, the gamma frequency), recorded in the model variants, strongly predicted their accuracy on the analogy test, similarly as did WM capacity in human participants (screened with an STM task) predicted their reasoning scores. So, the Chuderski and Andrelczyk (2015) model was the first demonstration that the enhanced coupling of the gamma and theta bands, resulting in maximizing the number of gamma oscillations in one theta cycle, might be related to top performance on Gf tests.…”

“…In other words, the cross-frequency coupling of neuronal oscillations may constitute the basic cognitive code which can be related to the form and -especially -the contents of cognitive operations (and resulting behavior), but also to the underlying neuronal level. As shown by several theoretical models (Chuderski & Andrelczyk, 2015;Doumas, Hummel, & Sandhofer, 2008;Hummel & Holyoak, 2003;Rasmussen & Eliasmith, 2014), such a grounding of reasoning and learning in the (simulated) oscillatory activity of certain neuron-like entities is possible in silico. Assuming that human cognition can be described at multiple levels (i.e., information-theoretic, or cognitive, operations in the brain are as "real" as underlying biological processes), the cross-frequency coupling may constitute the highest biological level of description (highly coordinated activity of neurons that is regulated by multiple neurotransmitters, and is strongly heritable; see Begleiter & Porjesz, 2006), as well as the lowest cognitive level of description (the most basic mechanism that is able to represent and transform structured representations; Chuderski & Andrelczyk, 2015).…”

Advances in Intelligence Research: What Should be Expected in the XXI Century (Questions & Answers)

“…Chuderski’s presentation was devoted to the problem of how individual differences in brain waves, especially their coupling, may account for observed intelligence differences (Chuderski & Andrelczyk, 2015). The analysis of Theta/Gamma couplings provides findings supporting the view that larger numbers of gamma cycles within a given theta cycle is related with higher intelligence levels.…”