Comparing EEG Brain Power of Mechanical Engineers in 3D CAD Modelling from 2D and 3D Representations

DS 116: Proceedings of the DESIGN2022 17th International Design Conference

Year: 2022
Editor: Mario Štorga, Stanko Škec, Tomislav Martinec, Dorian Marjanović
Author: Fanika Lukačević (1,2), Shumin Li (2), Niccolò Becattini (2), Stanko Škec (1)
Series: DESIGN
Institution: 1: University of Zagreb, Croatia; 2: Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Section: Human Behaviour and Design Creativity
Page(s): 901-910
DOI number: https://doi.org/10.1017/pds.2022.92
ISSN: 2732-527X (Online)

Abstract

Using the EEG features extracted from the EEG signals, the presented study investigates differences in the cognitive load posed on engineers while 3D CAD modelling in two different conditions, depending on the visual representations used as stimulus - a 2D and a 3D technical drawing of parts. The results indicate a higher cognitive load during the 2D drawing task. In addition, common indicators of the ongoing spatial information processing were recognised - a suppression of parietal and occipital alpha power, a higher frontal theta, and differences in theta power between the hemispheres.

Keywords: electroencephalography, brain activity, visualisation, computer-aided design (CAD), design cognition