ArticleCognitive processing2026
The fastest among us… The unique capacity of self-control of upper alpha brain oscillations for expedited mental rotation by some individuals.
Article in Cognitive processing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
We identify a previously unreported phenomenon where certain individuals show spontaneous increases in parietal-occipital upper alpha power before and after their first exposure to a mental rotation task. This enhancement likely reflects efficient cortical inhibition and selective neural tuning within visuospatial networks-mechanisms comparable to those engaged during neurofeedback-based cognitive training. Previous studies show that alpha oscillations, associated with attention, working memory, and mental rotation, can be consistently enhanced using neurofeedback. In our recent research, we found that the neurofeedback group significantly increased upper alpha amplitude and improved mental rotation speed compared to a control group. Surprisingly, some individuals in the control group exhibited increased upper alpha intensity both before and during the mental rotation task, without external conditioning. To examine this phenomenon, we conducted a follow-up study with 45 participants. First, we recorded their EEG activity, then they completed a mental rotation task. After finishing the task, participants rested for about 30 min, followed by another EEG recording before they undertook the mental rotation task again. The aim was to focus on the phenomenon where individuals exhibit spontaneous and task-related upper alpha power increases, and to examine whether their mental rotation performance differs from that of individuals without natural alpha elevation. Findings from this study are the first to show that both spontaneous and task-induced increases in upper alpha oscillations correlate with enhanced mental rotation, suggesting a unique and inherent mental mechanism allowing specific individuals to excel compared to their counterparts who lack this capacity. The paper examines potential mechanisms underlying spontaneous and task-related upper alpha elevation, providing crucial insights for refining strategies that aim to enhance spatial skills. Our results suggest intrinsic neurophysiological predispositions supporting superior spatial processing and highlight spontaneous alpha modulation as a potential biomarker of individual differences in visuo-cognitive efficiency.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42435137What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.