A Comparison of Brain Wave Patterns of High and Low Grade Point Average Students During Rest, Problem Solving, and Stress Situations.

The purpose of this study was to compare brain wave patterns produced by high and low grade point average students, while they were resting, solving problems, and subjected to stress situations. The study involved senior midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. The high group was comprised of those whose cumulative grade point average was between 3.50 and 4.00. The low group was comprised of those whose grade point cumulative average was between 2.00 and 2.25. Instrumentation included a Grass model 79C electroencephalograph, analog/digital filters, digital clocks, digital counters, and an eight channel oscilloscope. Treatment means were evaluated using a repeated measures design and a simple analysis of variance. The following conclusions were reached: (1) There were differences in brain wave patterns, depending whether the subjects were resting, solving problems, or under stress; and (2) The data did not support the hypothesis that high and low grade point average students would have differing brain wave patterns. Several suggestions are made as to areas for future research, and implications of the study are discussed. (Author/LAA)