The neurophysiological activations of mechanical engineers and industrial designers while designing and problem-solving. (2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vieira, Sonia; Gero, John S.; Delmoral, Jessica; Gattol, Valentin; Fernandes, Carlos; Parente, Marco; Fernandes, António A.
• Is Part Of: Design science. Volume 6(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020
• Subjects: designing, -- problem-solving, -- mechanical engineers, -- industrial designers, -- electroencephalography; Design -- Research -- Periodicals; New products -- Management -- Periodicals; Design; Design -- Research; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 658.5752
• DOI: 10.1017/dsj.2020.26
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-4701

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents results from an experiment using electroencephalography to measure neurophysiological activations of mechanical engineers and industrial designers when designing and problem-solving. In this study, we adopted and then extended the tasks described in a previous functional magnetic resonance imaging study reported in the literature. The block experiment consists of a sequence of three tasks: problem-solving, basic design and open design using a physical interface. The block is preceded by a familiarizing pre-task and then extended to a fourth open design task using free-hand sketching. This paper presents the neurophysiological results from 36 experimental sessions of mechanical engineers and industrial designers. Results indicate significant differences in activations between the problem-solving and the open design tasks. The paper focuses on the two prototypical tasks of problem-solving layout and open design sketching and presents results for both aggregate and temporal activations across participants within each domain and across domains.