Giftedness: An electrophysiological investigation.of hemispheric specialisation
Résumé
Introduction: The current study aimed at further tracking the neurophysiological correlates of giftedness. Whereas electrophysiological studies provided evidence for an accelerated cognitive maturation in gifted children, behavioural studies argue for particularities in hemispheric lateralisation. The Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were recorded in order to investigate hemisphere specialisation in giftedness.
Materials and Methods: The ERPs were recorded from 50 right-handed children ranged from 8 to 12 years divided into two age-matched groups: 25 gifted children, and 25 controls. All the children performed a neuropsychological set including the Intellectual Quotient (IQ) assessment. The EEG was recorded from 26 electrodes, while children performed a decision task and a matrix completion task using the divided visual field technique.
Results: The ERP analyses showed significant differences in both the N400 and the P300 latency bands during the two tasks arguing for an enhanced right hemisphere involvement. The pattern of ERPs demonstrated particularities in the hemispheric specialisation as a function of the IQ profile.
Discussion/conclusion: The present investigation is in line with the cognitive style usually observed in giftedness favouring holistic rather than analytic information processing with higher abilities to perform simultaneous rather than sequential processes. Assessing the cognitive style of gifted children using neurophysiological investigations permits to better understand their pedagogic needs.