Pilot Study: Investigating EEG Based Neuro-Responses of Engineers via a Modified Alternative Uses Task to Understand Creativity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tess Hartog ◽  
Megan Marshall ◽  
Md Tanvir Ahad ◽  
Amin G. Alhashim ◽  
Gul Okudan Kremer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Easy Task ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Creative Abilities

Abstract Assessing creativity is not an easy task, but that has not stopped researchers from exploring it. Because creativity is essential to engineering disciplines, knowing how to enhance creative abilities through engineering education has been a topic of interest. In this paper, the event related potential (ERP) technique is used to study the neural responses of engineers via a modified alternative uses task (AUT). Though only a pilot study testing two participants, the preliminary results of this study indicate general neuro-responsiveness to novel or unusual stimuli. These findings also suggest that a scaled-up study along these lines would enable better understanding and modeling of neuroresponses of engineers and creative thinking, as well as contribute to the growing field of ERP research in the field of engineering.

What you morph is not what you get: Subjective and neural responses to facial expressions of emotion depend on perceived intensity/arousal (not on amount of morphing)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Ferreira-Santos ◽  
Mariana R. Pereira ◽  
Tiago O. Paiva ◽  
Pedro R. Almeida ◽  
Eva C. Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Electrophysiological Study ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Emotional Intensity ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Facial Stimuli ◽  
Facial Expressions Of Emotion ◽  
Processing Techniques

The behavioral and electrophysiological study of the emotional intensity of facial expressions of emotions has relied on image processing techniques termed ‘morphing’ to generate realistic facial stimuli in which emotional intensity can be manipulated. This is achieved by blending neutral and emotional facial displays and treating the percent of morphing between the two stimuli as an objective measure of emotional intensity. Here we argue that the percentage of morphing between stimuli does not provide an objective measure of emotional intensity and present supporting evidence from affective ratings and neural (event-related potential) responses. We show that 50% morphs created from high or moderate arousal stimuli differ in subjective and neural responses in a sensible way: 50% morphs are perceived as having approximately half of the emotional intensity of the original stimuli, but if the original stimuli differed in emotional intensity to begin with, then so will the morphs. We suggest a re-examination of previous studies that used percentage of morphing as a measure of emotional intensity and highlight the value of more careful experimental control of emotional stimuli and inclusion of proper manipulation checks.

Project-based learning in a graduate course on home appliance engineering

2021 ◽  
pp. 002072092110134
Author(s):  
Yeon Kim ◽  
Suk Lee ◽  
Changsun Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Engineering Education ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Learning Method ◽  
Graduate Course ◽  
Industrial Projects ◽  
Home Appliance

Project-based learning is one of the popular and promising approaches in engineering education. The current study reports on a curriculum that was designed and implemented by a graduate school to help students gain knowledge and creative thinking skills through collaboration between different majors during industrial projects in a graduate course on home appliance engineering. The students selected the topics, planned the project, conducted research, produced a prototype, and presented their results under the guidance of a group of advisors consisting of professors, technical advisors, and industry mentors. A quantitative analysis showed that this approach was effective in improving the students’ attitude toward engineering. Furthermore, a qualitative analysis showed that this learning method helped students learn how to communicate and present effectively, to flexibly approach projects, and to understand the practices of industrial research. Based on the findings, the current study discusses how the project-based learning helped students advance.

Su1540 Self-Expandable Biodegradable Stent in the Management of Refractory Benign Colorectal Strictures: Preliminary Results From a Pilot Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. AB298
Author(s):  
Alessandro Repici ◽  
Giacomo Rando ◽  
Fabio Romeo ◽  
Nico Pagano ◽  
Alessandra Carlino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Biodegradable Stent ◽  
Preliminary Results

Restricted Access: Exploratory Procedures and Object Properties

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sile O’Modhrain
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Haptic Interface ◽  
Sorting Task ◽  
Restricted Access ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Object Properties ◽  
Manual Exploration ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Exploratory Procedures ◽  
Interface Designs

Abstract In this paper, we present the results of a pilot study that examines whether restricting how people can explore objects haptically effects the object attributes they notice and the efficiency with which they can perform a simple sorting task. 25 observers were each randomly assigned to one of five exploration conditions: two hands (the control), one hand, thumb/forefinger, one finger, or probe. All observers performed a series of two-bin sorts. Stimuli were eight multi-propertied cubes which could be divided into two equal bins according to three properties: size, texture, and compliance. Preliminary results indicate that the restrictions on manual exploration we imposed affected both the exploratory procedures observers chose to use and the efficiency with which they could perform the task. Haptic interface designs inevitably restrict the exploratory procedures available to the user. This study attempts to determine the cost of these restrictions on the efficiency with which a user can explore multi-propertied objects in a virtual or telepresence environment.

scholarly journals Monitoring Migraine Cycle Dynamics with an Easy-to-Use Electrophysiological Marker—A Pilot Study

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 3918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goded Shahaf ◽  
Pora Kuperman ◽  
Yuval Bloch ◽  
Shahak Yariv ◽  
Yelena Granovsky
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Auditory Oddball ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Auditory Oddball Task ◽  
The Brain

Migraine attacks can cause significant discomfort and reduced functioning for days at a time, including the pre-ictal and post-ictal periods. During the inter-ictsal period, however, migraineurs seem to function normally. It is puzzling, therefore, that event-related potentials of migraine patients often differ in the asymptomatic and inter-ictal period. Part of the electrophysiological dynamics demonstrated in the migraine cycle are attention related. In this pilot study we evaluated an easy-to-use new marker, the Brain Engagement Index (BEI), for attention monitoring during the migraine cycle. We sampled 12 migraine patients for 20 days within one calendar month. Each session consisted of subjects’ reports of stress level and migraine-related symptoms, and a 5 min EEG recording, with a 2-electrode EEG device, during an auditory oddball task. The first minute of the EEG sample was analyzed. Repetitive samples were also obtained from 10 healthy controls. The brain engagement index increased significantly during the pre-ictal (p ≈ 0.001) and the ictal (p ≈ 0.020) periods compared with the inter-ictal period. No difference was observed between the pre-ictal and ictal periods. Control subjects demonstrated intermediate Brain Engagement Index values, that is, higher than inter-ictal, yet lower than pre-ictal. Our preliminary results demonstrate the potential advantage of the use of a simple EEG system for improved prediction of migraine attacks. Further study is required to evaluate the efficacy of the Brain Engagement Index in monitoring the migraine cycle and the possible effects of interventions.

scholarly journals Slumps and Jumps: Another Look at Developmental Changes in Creative Abilities

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Gralewski ◽  
Izabela Lebuda ◽  
Aleksandra Gajda ◽  
Dorota M. Jankowska ◽  
Ewa Wiśniewska
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Formal Schooling ◽  
Primary School Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
Creative Abilities ◽  
Nonlinear Pattern

AbstractThe aim of this study is the analysis of creativity changes across life, particularly the widely discussed crisis periods in the development of creative abilities. A large and diversified sample of Poles (N = 4898 aged from 4 to 21 years), at each educational stage of the Polish education system, from pre-schoolers, through primary school students, middle-school students, secondary-school students and finally university students completed the Test for Creative Thinking – Drawing Production. The observed changes showed a nonlinear pattern in the development of creativity with diverse declines and increases in creative abilities. These trends are different for each of the assessment criteria of the TCT-DP and at least three different trajectories were identified. The adolescent slump was confirmed for three of the 14 assessment criteria as well as the total TCT-DP score. What was not noted however was: a slump caused by entry into formal schooling, (age 6 vs 7), 4th grade slump, (age 9 vs 10) and 6th grade slump (age 11 vs 12). We discuss possible reasons for and consequences of the findings.

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