Design Neurocognition

What is the link between designing and brain behavior is the research question driving this research.


The cognitive neuroscience of designing is a nascent research area that uses EEG, fNIRS and fMRI techniques to study the brains of designers and connect their brain behaviors to their cognitive designing behaviors. We are looking at cognitive behavior that is uniquely indicated for designers and aim to determine whether there are correspondingly unique differences in brain behavior. Projects include investigating brain response differences between designer domains, expertise and gender; effect of design techniques and effects of neurocognitive feedback on ideation fluency.

Publications

Initial papers that describe some recent research findings.

  • Hu, M, Shealy, T, Milovanovic, J and Gero, JS (2021) Neuro-cognitive feedback: A prospective approach to sustain idea generation during brainstorming, International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation doi: 10.1080/21650349.2021.1976678

  • Milovanovic, J, Hu, M, Shealy, T and Gero JS (2021) Characterization of concept generation for engineering design through temporal brain network analysis, Design Studies, 76 doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2021.101044

  • Milovanovic, J, Hu, M, Shealy, T and Gero, JS (2020) Evolution of brain network connectivity in the prefrontal cortex during concept generation using brainstorming for a design task, ASME IDETC, paper DETC2020-22563 (pdf)

  • Shealy, T, Gero, JS, Hu, M and Milovanovic, J (2020) Concept generation techniques change patterns of brain activation during engineering design, Design Science 6, e31. https://doi.org/10.1017/dsj.2020.30

  • Shealy, T, Hu, M and Gero, JS (2018) Patterns of cortical activation when using concept generation techniques of brainstorming, morphological analysis and TRIZ, ASME IDETC, paper DETC2018-86272. doi: 10.1115/DETC2018-86272

  • Vieira, S, Benedek. M, Gero, JS, Li, S and Cascini, G (2022) Brain activity in constrained and open design: The effect of gender on frequency bands, AIEDAM, 36(e6). doi: 10.1017/S0890060421000202

  • Vieira, S, Gero, JS, Delmoral, J, Fernandes, C, Gattol, V and Fernandes, A (2019) Insights from an EEG study of mechanical engineers problem solving and designing, Human Behavior in Designing Conference, in Y Eriksson and K Paetzold (eds), Human Behavior in Design, UniBw M, Germany, pp. 23-34. (pdf)

  • Vieira, S, Gero, JS, Delmoral, J, Gattol, V, Fernandes, C and Fernandes, A (2019) Comparing the design neurocognition of mechanical engineers and architects: A study of the effect of designer's domain, in Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED19), Delft, The Netherlands, 5-8 August 2019. doi:10.1017/dsi.2019.191

  • Vieira, S, Gero, JS, Li, S, Gattol, V, Fernandes, C (2020) Brain activity in constrained and open design spaces: An EEG study. In J-F. Boujet, et. al. (eds), The Sixth International Conference on Design Creativity-ICDC2020, Design Society, pp. 68-75.(pdf) https://doi.org/10.35199/ICDC.2020.09


People

The people who are working on this include:

  • Gaetano Cascini, Politecnico di Milano

  • Lila Chrysikou, Drexel University

  • Samuele Colombo, Politecnico di Turino

  • Jessica Delmoral, University of Porto

  • Valentin Gattol, Austrian Institute of Technology

  • Mo Hu, Virginia Tech

  • Paolo Ignacio, Virginia Tech

  • Nayeon Kim, Yonsei University

  • Shumin Li, Politecnico di Milano

  • Julie Milovanovic, Nantes University

  • Tripp Shealy, Virginia Tech

  • Sonia Vieira, University of Porto/Politecnico di Milano