Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning

ABSTRACT Introduction The neural substrates of reasoning, a cognitive ability we use constantly in daily life, are still unclear. Reasoning can be divided into two types according to how the inference process works and the certainty of the conclusions. In deductive reasoning, certain conclusions are...

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Main Authors: Emir Faruk Sevim, Yasin Yildirim, Esra Ünsal, Esra Dalmizrak, Bahar Güntekin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Brain and Behavior
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70179
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author Emir Faruk Sevim
Yasin Yildirim
Esra Ünsal
Esra Dalmizrak
Bahar Güntekin
author_facet Emir Faruk Sevim
Yasin Yildirim
Esra Ünsal
Esra Dalmizrak
Bahar Güntekin
author_sort Emir Faruk Sevim
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Introduction The neural substrates of reasoning, a cognitive ability we use constantly in daily life, are still unclear. Reasoning can be divided into two types according to how the inference process works and the certainty of the conclusions. In deductive reasoning, certain conclusions are drawn from premises by applying the rules of logic. On the other hand, in probabilistic reasoning, possible conclusions are drawn by interpreting the semantic content of arguments. Methods We examined event‐related oscillations associated with deductive and probabilistic reasoning. To better represent the natural use of reasoning, we adopted a design that required participants to choose what type of reasoning they would use. Twenty healthy participants judged the truth values of alternative conclusion propositions following two premises while the EEG was being recorded. We then analyzed event‐related delta and theta power and phase‐locking induced under two different conditions. Results We found that the reaction time was shorter and the accuracy rate was higher in deductive reasoning than in probabilistic reasoning. High delta and theta power in the temporoparietal, parietal, and occipital regions of the brain were observed in deductive reasoning. As for the probabilistic reasoning, prolonged delta response in the right hemisphere and high frontal theta phase‐locking were noted. Conclusion Our results suggest that the electrophysiological signatures of the two types of reasoning have distinct characteristics. There are significant differences in the delta and theta responses that are associated with deductive and probabilistic reasoning. Although our findings suggest that deductive and probabilistic reasoning have different neural substrates, consistent with most of the studies in the literature, there is not yet enough evidence to make a comprehensive claim on the subject. There is a need to diversify the growing literature on deductive and probabilistic reasoning with different methods and experimental paradigms.
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spelling doaj-art-a9b71dedc8fe4411a7224bb7dbe92eec2025-01-29T13:36:39ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-01-01151n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70179Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic ReasoningEmir Faruk Sevim0Yasin Yildirim1Esra Ünsal2Esra Dalmizrak3Bahar Güntekin4Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences Istanbul Medipol University Istanbul TurkeyDepartment of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Institute of Health Sciences Istanbul Medipol University Istanbul TurkeyDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences Istanbul Medipol University Istanbul TurkeyDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences Istanbul Medipol University Istanbul TurkeyResearch Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Neuroscience Research Center, Clinical Electrophysiology, Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation Lab Istanbul Medipol University Istanbul TurkeyABSTRACT Introduction The neural substrates of reasoning, a cognitive ability we use constantly in daily life, are still unclear. Reasoning can be divided into two types according to how the inference process works and the certainty of the conclusions. In deductive reasoning, certain conclusions are drawn from premises by applying the rules of logic. On the other hand, in probabilistic reasoning, possible conclusions are drawn by interpreting the semantic content of arguments. Methods We examined event‐related oscillations associated with deductive and probabilistic reasoning. To better represent the natural use of reasoning, we adopted a design that required participants to choose what type of reasoning they would use. Twenty healthy participants judged the truth values of alternative conclusion propositions following two premises while the EEG was being recorded. We then analyzed event‐related delta and theta power and phase‐locking induced under two different conditions. Results We found that the reaction time was shorter and the accuracy rate was higher in deductive reasoning than in probabilistic reasoning. High delta and theta power in the temporoparietal, parietal, and occipital regions of the brain were observed in deductive reasoning. As for the probabilistic reasoning, prolonged delta response in the right hemisphere and high frontal theta phase‐locking were noted. Conclusion Our results suggest that the electrophysiological signatures of the two types of reasoning have distinct characteristics. There are significant differences in the delta and theta responses that are associated with deductive and probabilistic reasoning. Although our findings suggest that deductive and probabilistic reasoning have different neural substrates, consistent with most of the studies in the literature, there is not yet enough evidence to make a comprehensive claim on the subject. There is a need to diversify the growing literature on deductive and probabilistic reasoning with different methods and experimental paradigms.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70179conditional reasoningdeductive reasoningelectroencephalographyevent‐related oscillationsprobabilistic reasoning
spellingShingle Emir Faruk Sevim
Yasin Yildirim
Esra Ünsal
Esra Dalmizrak
Bahar Güntekin
Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning
Brain and Behavior
conditional reasoning
deductive reasoning
electroencephalography
event‐related oscillations
probabilistic reasoning
title Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning
title_full Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning
title_fullStr Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning
title_full_unstemmed Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning
title_short Distinctive Delta and Theta Responses in Deductive and Probabilistic Reasoning
title_sort distinctive delta and theta responses in deductive and probabilistic reasoning
topic conditional reasoning
deductive reasoning
electroencephalography
event‐related oscillations
probabilistic reasoning
url https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70179
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