CORRELATING DESIGN PERFORMANCE TO EEG ACTIVATION: EARLY EVIDENCE FROM EXPERIMENTAL DATA

AbstractThis paper presents an EEG (Electroencephalography) study that explores correlations between the neurophysiological activations, the nature of the design task and its outputs. We propose an experimental protocol that covers several design-related tasks: including fundamental activities (e.g. idea generation and problem-solving) as well as more comprehensive task requiring the complex higher-level reasoning of designing. We clustered the collected data according to the characteristics of the design outcome and measured EEG alpha band activation during elementary and higher-level design task, whereas just the former yielded statistically significant different behaviour in the left frontal and occipital area. We also found a significant correlation between the ratings for elementary sketching task outcomes and EEG activation at the higher-level design task. These results suggested that EEG activation enables distinguishing groups according to their performance only for elementary tasks. However, this also suggests a potential application of EEG data on the elementary tasks to distinguish the designers' brain response during higher-level of design task.

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CNN-based Framework using Spatial Dropping for Enhanced Interpretation of Neural Activity in Motor Imagery Classification

10.21203/rs.3.rs-27669/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Diego Fabian Collazos Huertas ◽

Andres Marino Alvarez Meza ◽

German Castellanos Dominguez

Keyword(s):

Wavelet Transform ◽

Motor Imagery ◽

Continuous Wavelet Transform ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Machine Learning Techniques ◽

Continuous Wavelet ◽

Brain Response ◽

Power Spectral ◽

Learning Techniques ◽

Eeg Data

Abstract Interpretation of brain activity responses using Motor Imagery (MI) paradigms is vital for medical diagnosis and monitoring. Assessed by machine learning techniques, identification of imagined actions is hindered by substantial intra and inter subject variability. Here, we develop an architecture of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with enhanced interpretation of the spatial brain neural patterns that mainly contribute to the classification of MI tasks. Two methods of 2D-feature extraction from EEG data are contrasted: Power Spectral Density and Continuous Wavelet Transform. For preserving the spatial interpretation of extracting EEG patterns, we project the multi-channel data using a topographic interpolation. Besides, we include a spatial dropping algorithm to remove the learned weights that reflect the localities not engaged with the elicited brain response. Obtained results in a bi-task MI database show that the thresholding strategy in combination with Continuous Wavelet Transform improves the accuracy and enhances the interpretability of CNN architecture, showing that the highest contribution clusters over the sensorimotor cortex with differentiated behavior between μ and β rhythms.

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Three times NO: no relationship between frontal alpha asymmetry and depressive disorders in a multiverse analysis of three studies

10.1101/2020.06.30.180760 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Aleksandra Kołodziej ◽

Mikołaj Magnuski ◽

Anastasia Ruban ◽

Aneta Brzezicka

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Analytical Approach ◽

Depressive Disorders ◽

Alpha Power ◽

Alpha Oscillations ◽

Alpha Asymmetry ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Theoretical Assumptions ◽

Frontal Alpha Asymmetry ◽

Eeg Alpha

AbstractFor decades, the frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) - a disproportion in EEG alpha oscillations power between right and left frontal channels - has been one of the most popular measures of depressive disorders (DD) in electrophysiology studies. Patients with DD often manifest a left-sided FAA: relatively higher alpha power in the left versus right frontal lobe. Recently, however, multiple studies failed to confirm this effect, questioning its reproducibility. Our purpose is to thoroughly test the validity of FAA in depression by conducting a multiverse analysis - running many related analyses and testing the sensitivity of the effect to changes in the analytical approach - on data from three independent studies. Only two of the 81 analyses revealed significant results. We conclude the paper by discussing theoretical assumptions underlying the FAA and suggest a list of guidelines for improving and expanding the EEG data analysis in future FAA studies.

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Eeg Alpha Activity and Hallucinatory Experience during Sensory Deprivation

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1992.75.2.403 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 403-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mitsuo Hayashi ◽

Toshio Morikawa ◽

Tadao Hori

Keyword(s):

Right Hemisphere ◽

Sensory Deprivation ◽

Alpha Activity ◽

Male Students ◽

Alpha Band ◽

Hallucinatory Experience ◽

Eeg Activation ◽

Eeg Alpha ◽

Eeg Alpha Activity ◽

The Relationship

The relationship between hallucinatory experiences under sensory deprivation and EEG alpha activities was studied. Each of seven male students lived alone in an air conditioned, soundproof dark room for 72 hours. When hallucinatory experiences occurred, the students pressed a button at once. If they could not press the button during the experience, they were required to press it two times when the hallucinatory experience was finished. Spectral analysis was performed on the consecutive EEG samples from just before button-presses to 10 min. before them, and the average alpha band amplitudes were obtained for the four epochs (0-.5, .5-2, 2-5, 5-10 min.). For the single button-presses, the amplitude of alpha band increased 2 min. before the button-presses. Right-hemisphere EEG activation was observed in the occipital area for the double button-presses. The results suggest an association between the hallucinatory experiences under sensory deprivation and the amount of EEG alpha activity.

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Investigating the Effect of Intrinsic Motivation on Alpha Desynchronization Using Sample Entropy

Entropy ◽

10.3390/e21030237 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 237 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tustanah Phukhachee ◽

Suthathip Maneewongvatana ◽

Thanate Angsuwatanakul ◽

Keiji Iramina ◽

Boonserm Kaewkamnerdpong

Keyword(s):

Intrinsic Motivation ◽

Time Series Data ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Sample Entropy ◽

Entropy Method ◽

Series Data ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Smart Education ◽

Eeg Alpha ◽

Spectral Perturbation

The effect of motivation and attention could play an important role in providing personalized learning services and improving learners toward smart education. These effects on brain activity could be quantified by EEG and open the path to analyze the efficiency of services during the learning process. Many studies reported the appearance of EEG alpha desynchronization during the attention period, resulting in better cognitive performance. Motivation was also found to be reflected in EEG. This study investigated the effect of intrinsic motivation on the alpha desynchronization pattern in terms of the complexity of time series data. The sample entropy method was used to quantify the complexity of event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) of EEG data. We found that when participants can remember the stimulus, ERSP was significantly less complex than when they cannot. However, the effect of intrinsic motivation cannot be defined by using sample entropy directly. ERSP’s main effect showed that motivation affects the complexity of ERSP data; longer continuous alpha desynchronization patterns were found when participants were motivated. Therefore, we introduced an algorithm to identify the longest continuous alpha desynchronization pattern. The method allowed us to understand that intrinsic motivation has an effect on recognition at the frontal and left parietal area directly.

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Clustering and switching in divergent thinking: Neurophysiological correlates underlying flexibility during idea generation

10.31234/osf.io/f8jxk ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Serena Mastria ◽

Sergio Agnoli ◽

Marco Zanon ◽

Selcuk Acar ◽

Mark Runco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Divergent Thinking ◽

Right Hemisphere ◽

Idea Generation ◽

Cortical Activation ◽

Cognitive Resources ◽

Alpha Band ◽

Everyday Objects ◽

Posterior Parietal ◽

Eeg Alpha ◽

The Right

EEG alpha synchronization, especially in posterior parietal cortical regions of the right hemisphere, is indicative of high internal processing demands that are typically involved in divergent thinking (DT). During the course of DT, as ideation proceeds, ideas tend to become more creative, being more likely to be drawn from new conceptual categories through the use of the cognitive mechanism of flexibility. The present study investigated whether EEG alpha synchronization can be modulated by flexibility in DT by comparing cortical activation patterns during the switch of category (switching) and the stay in the same category (clustering). Twenty participants were required to generate alternative uses of everyday objects during EEG recording. Differential results were specifically found in the lower alpha band (8-10 Hz): whereas clustering showed synchronization typically lateralized in the right posterior parietal areas, switching induced posterior parietal synchronization over both right and left hemispheres. These findings indicate that the two distinct cognitive mechanisms subsuming flexibility (switching and clustering) are associated with a different hemispheric modulation of lower alpha activity, as switching, in comparison to clustering, is related to higher power in the lower alpha band over the left hemisphere. Switching in comparison to clustering may thus require a larger investment of cognitive resources due to the exploratory process of moving from one semantic conceptual category to another in the course of creative ideation.

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How Do You Create Ideas When You Are Excited, Calm, Upset or Fatigued? – The Relationship between Mood State and Creativity

Sains Humanika ◽

10.11113/sh.v9n3-2.1273 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (3-2) ◽

Author(s):

Fasiha, M. Y. N.

Keyword(s):

Design Process ◽

Mood State ◽

Idea Generation ◽

Mood States ◽

Design Task ◽

The Relationship

Design process is a process an engineer goes through in devising a solution of a problem. The process requires both knowledge and creativity. Idea generation during the conceptualization stage of design process is the process in which creativity is most utilized by designers. Many factors affect the creativity of the created ideas including the mood states of the designers. The aim of this study is to identify how the creative nature of designers at the beginning stage of design in which the process of ideation is applied, is affected by their mood states. For that purpose, a number of student designers are first induced into several mood states before given a design task. The task applied is on designing a solution for improving the use of a commonly used artefact. The creativity of the idea is evaluated based on the fluency, originality, and expansion. As the result, the ‘positive activating mood’ is found to be effective for higher level of creativity.

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NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN IDEA GENERATION: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS

Proceedings of the Design Society: DESIGN Conference ◽

10.1017/dsd.2020.161 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 1415-1424

Author(s):

S. Colombo ◽

A. Mazza ◽

F. Montagna ◽

R. Ricci ◽

O. Dal Monte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Eye Tracking ◽

Multidisciplinary Team ◽

Idea Generation ◽

Experimental Protocol ◽

Convergent Thinking ◽

Divergent And Convergent Thinking ◽

Generation Differences

AbstractThe paper describes the rigorous implementation of a validated methodological experimental protocol to divergent and convergent thinking tasks occurring in Design by neurophysiological means (EEG and eye-tracking). EEG evidence confirms the findings coherently to the literature. Interesting is the confirmation of such results through eye-tracking ones, and further evidence emerged. In particular, neurophysiological results in idea generation differ between designers and engineers. This study was supported by a multidisciplinary team, both for the neuropsychological and data analysis aspects.

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Relating Design Process to Quality: A Virtual Design of Experiments Approach

Journal of Mechanical Design ◽

10.1115/1.2712215 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 129 (5) ◽

pp. 483-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Durward K. Sobek ◽

Vikas K. Jain

Keyword(s):

Design Of Experiments ◽

Idea Generation ◽

Problem Definition ◽

System Level ◽

System Level Design ◽

Virtual Design ◽

Process Data ◽

Design Quality ◽

Design Work ◽

Level Design

This paper focuses on better understanding how design processes affect outcomes in mechanical engineering design. Following a general design research methodology, process data were collected from student design journals and tested for association with design quality as measured by an external evaluation using a virtual design of experiments approach. The results indicate that more time spent on system-level design (including problem generation, idea generation, and analysis activity) and on concept-level problem definition activity associate positively with design quality, while more time spent on concept-level idea generation, detailed design, and refinement associated negatively with design quality. These results imply that student designers should emphasize problem definition, information gathering, and system-level design work more so than high-level idea generation activities.

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The Effect of Listening To Binaural Beats on Frontal EEG Alpha and Beta of Males and Female

Social and Management Research Journal ◽

10.24191/smrj.v12i2.5051 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 77

Author(s):

Haryanti Norhazman ◽

Norliza Mohamad Zaini ◽

Mohd Nasir Taib ◽

Kama Azura Othman ◽

Rozita Jailani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Graphical Analysis ◽

Female Group ◽

Binaural Beats ◽

Energy Spectral Density ◽

Normality Test ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Before And After ◽

Left And Right ◽

Males And Females ◽

Eeg Alpha

Healthy brain is important in making sure that our lives are run properly. In most cases, normal and emotionally stable persons can think wisely and most of the time they are able to execute proper strategy in any problem solving. Listening to the Binaural Beats tone is one of the methods to distress. The effects of the Binaural Beats tone on male and female were observed on Alpha and Beta sub bands in both hemispheres. 40 subjects were involved in EEG data collection of sessions before and after listening to the binaural beats. The frequency of the beats used in this research is Alpha frequency of 9 Hz. The Energy Spectral Density feature (ESD) for both left and right hemispheres were used. Graphical analysis observing the box plot from the Normality Test shows that in session before, females have higher alpha level in both hemispheres as compared to males. Females have lower beta level in both hemispheres as compared to males. In session after listening to the binaural beats, both males and females have better decrement in beta levels in both hemispheres. Decrement in Beta sub bands also indicates that the subjects are getting more relaxed. The results indicate that male’s brain is easier to be entrained. During listening to noise, female group shows that they are easily affected by noise as compared to males. Keywords: Binaural Beats, EEG, ESD, female and male

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The Level of Self-Esteem May Influence the Effect of Positive Self-Statements. An EEG Alpha Asymmetry Pilot Study

Symmetry ◽

10.3390/sym13101913 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1913

Author(s):

Inga Dziembowska ◽

Anna Rasmus ◽

Samad Esmaeilzadeh ◽

Monika Wiłkość-Dębczyńska

Keyword(s):

Adverse Effect ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Physiological Effect ◽

Stress Coping ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Moderation Effect ◽

Alpha Asymmetry ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Frontal Alpha Asymmetry ◽

Eeg Alpha

(1) Background: Affirmative statements are widely recognized as a reliable tool that enhances personal resources to manage life demands, including stress-coping and emotional adaptability. However, recent data suggest that contrary effects can be obtained regarding the global self-esteem level. The current study focused on an approach for recognizing affirmation-induced responses in electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha asymmetry. (2) Methods: EEG data were collected from a total of 45 males (16–20 years) on a baseline condition and compared to EEG data produced when listening to positive self-statements, regarding self-esteem as a covariate. (3) Results: The study revealed relative left-frontal alpha asymmetry, indicating an approach-related motivational state, and right alpha asymmetry in parieto-temporal regions, indicating lower anxiety. This increased with higher self-esteem scores, with a more prominent moderation effect in experimental conditions. These results support and extend previous reports suggesting an adverse effect of positive self-statements for people with lower global self-esteem. (4) Conclusions: Positive self-statements may produce a differing physiological effect regarding an individual’s global self-esteem level, with an adverse effect for people with lower self-esteem scores. These data highlight the need to consider differentiation of psychological approaches between people with higher and lower self-esteem levels.

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