Associations between Learning Tools, Concentration, and Electroencephalographic Responses in University Students

This study examined the association between concentration performance and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses according to the learning tools, specifically paper-based and tablet PC-based learning.Thirty healthy college students (10 males and 20 females) completed various concentration tasks using both learning tools in a within-subject design, and EEG data were also collected from a subset of 10 participants as a pilot analysis.The EEG signals were recorded using 15 electrodes placed according to the international 10-20 system, and a sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) was selected as the primary EEG indicator because of its association with sustained attention.The behavioral concentration test scores did not differ significantly between the two learning conditions.On the other hand, exploratory EEG analysis revealed a significant difference in SMR frequency between learning conditions, with tablet PC-based learning associated with higher mean SMR frequency compared to paper-based learning.These findings suggest that different learning tools may be associated with differences in neurophysiological concentration states, even when the short-term behavioral performance is comparable.Nevertheless, the results should be interpreted cautiously given the limited EEG sample size.This study provides preliminary evidence supporting further investigation of learning media effects using larger samples and more ecologically valid learning tasks.