BRAIN ACTIVITIES INFLUENCED BY SEMANTIC FEEDBACK ON DESIGN IDEAS: AN EXPLORATIVE EEG STUDY
DS 136: Proceedings of the Asia Design and Innovation Conference (ADIC) 2024
Year: 2024
Editor: Yong Se Kim; Yutaka Nomaguchi; Chun-Hsien Chen; Xiangyang Xin; Linna Hu; Meng Wang
Author: Wang, Mengru; Soomro, Sohail Ahmed; Gong, Zhengya; Wang, Rui; Georgiev, Georgi V.
Series: Other endorsed
Institution: University of Oulu, University of Lapland, Anshan Normal University
Page(s): 288-295
Abstract
Semantic measures have been recognized for their effectiveness in predicting the success of ideas in design contexts. However, the specific impact of semantic feedback on the neurocognitive processes involved in design ideation has been relatively unexplored. To bridge this gap, our study utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity as participants engaged in design ideation tasks. Each participant completed the ideation task twice: once before and once after receiving semantic feedback from an instructor. We conducted a detailed analysis of the recorded EEG data, computing the Power Spectral Density (PSD) across various frequency bands—including delta, theta, alpha, beta1, beta2, and gamma—to assess the intensity of brain activities. Our findings indicate a general increase in the power spectrum across these frequency bands following the receipt of semantic feedback. This enhancement in brain activity suggests that participants were likely more engaged and focused on the ideation process after receiving feedback, underlining the potential of semantic feedback to influence creative thinking and cognitive engagement in design tasks positively.
Keywords: Idea generation, Semantic feedback, EEG, Frequency analysis