Validation of Brain Event-related Potentials as Indicators of Cognitive Styles, Abilities, and Aptitudes
Fifty Navy recruits were given 11 paper-and-pencil tests of cognitive styles, abilities, and aptitudes. Visual, auditory, and bimodal brain even-related potential (ERP) amplitudes were recorded from each of these subjects. Product-moment and cononical correlational analyses, as well as principal-factor analysis and varimax rotation, were conducted. Product-moment correlations indicated that some cognitive attributes were significantly associated with some ERPs. Cognitive characteristics that contributed to the the significant canonical correlations were general aptitude, verbal comprehension, spatial ability, field dependence-independence, conceptualizing style, and reflection-impulsivity, as well as ERPs in the right temporal and parietal areas and left frontal and parietal areas. Some ERPs and cognitive characteristics defined the same underlying dimensions, implying that they are related. The results demonstrated the construct validity of ERPs as indicators of individual differences in cognitive characteristics, especially crystallized and fluid intelligence. (Author).