Eye movements, EEG, GSR and EKG during mental multiplication ☆

Abstract Data from ten subjects before and during mental multiplication may be summarized: 1. 1. Each of the ten subjects showed a significant increase in eye movement rate (EMR) during mental multiplication. These data suggest that rapid ocular movement is a consistent concomitant of mental multiplication under the conditions described. 2. 2. The increase in EMR during mental multiplication was not related to changes in heart rate, conductance level (CL), per cent time occipital alpha, or to the presence of a palmar galvanic skin response (PGR) following presentation of a problem, although a tendency was observed for those individuals with high CL's to have both PGR's and high EMR's. 3. 3. Records of the six subjects scored for percent time occipital alpha each showed a significant decrease in occipital alpha activity during mental multiplication attributable primarily to “blocking”. No unique EEG wave forms were identified.

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