A neuroimaging data set on problem solving in the case of the reversal error: Putamen data

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Educational Neuroscience

Background:

• Structural Magnetic Resonance Images (sMRI) were collected from university students.
• A specialized algebra problem-solving test was administered to assess reversal errors.
• Students were categorized into two groups based on error rates: high error (>60%) and no error.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key brain structures associated with neuroeducation and mathematical problem-solving.
• To investigate volumetric and shape differences in the putamen between students with varying algebra performance.
• To explore the neural correlates of reversal errors in mathematical tasks.

Main Methods:

• Volumetric analysis of structural MRI data.
• Pre-processing and segmentation of left and right putamen.
• Shape analysis of the putamen in relation to performance groups.
• Dataset includes sMRI data for 33 students (20 female) with group assignment.

Main Results:

• Significant volumetric differences were observed in the right and left putamen between the high-error and no-error groups.
• These findings suggest the putamen's involvement in algebra problem-solving accuracy.
• The study provides a dataset for further investigation into putamen morphology and function.

Conclusions:

• The putamen plays a relevant role in neuroeducation, specifically in mathematical problem-solving and error detection.
• Structural differences in the putamen may predict or be associated with performance in tasks involving reversal errors.
• This research highlights the potential of neuroimaging to understand learning processes and individual differences in academic skills.