The functional significance of α2 frequency range for convergent and divergent verbal thinking

Mapping of the power and coherence of α2 bioelectric potentials was used to detect a common effect of rhythm desynchronization in two types of convergent verbal thinking (generation of any words beginning with the given letter or simple associations) with more pronounced left-hemispheric activation predominantly in the temporo-parieto-occipital cortical area. In addition, there were specific functional changes in α2 bioelectric potentials depending on the subjects' sex and verbal creativity level, which was estimated by the capacity for divergent thinking (finding associations for triads of semantically remote words). The dynamics of the regional activation of the cortex depending on the verbal operation type was more characteristic of men compared to women and of creative persons compared to noncreative ones. In creative persons of both sexes, more original associations were accompanied by a decreased α2-rhythm coherence. In noncreative women, interhemispheric interaction was, conversely, increased. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc. 2007.