A PILOT STUDY ON THETA FREQUENCY OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT PLAYING ACTIVITIES AT PREFRONTAL CORTEX

摘要

Theta frequency at the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is often related to the cognitive process in early childhood. In the present study, we focused on the types of playing activities that could enhance the theta frequency in preschoolers at their PFC area with study on individual brainwaves. The selected playing activities included LEGO and wooden blocks with and without instruction, iPad apps and flash card comparison. A total of 12 individual cases were analyzed in this study. The mean theta amplitudes of their PFC were measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG). Children brainwaves showed profoundly high theta frequency while playing LEGO without guidance. Meanwhile, tablet-based computer educational tool with pictures, sound, and motion initiated greater theta frequency as compared to the conventional flash card. Brainwaves analysis is a great tool to determine the cognitive development of children, based on the types of activities allocated to them.