| Title | Programming in an fMRI Scanner: A Report from the Field |
| Publication Type | Workshop Paper |
| Year of Publication | 2022 |
| Authors | Tanimoto S |
| Secondary Authors | Thompson R, Richards T, Yates C, Berninger V |
| Keywords | affect, blocks language, brain imaging, coding, experience of programming, fMRI, novice programming, programming, visual programming |
| Abstract | A preliminary study is reported in which six human subjects were
scanned while performing a simple form of computer programming.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging typically precludes the use
of ordinary computing equipment due to safety concerns when
items with metallic parts are in the scanning room.We used a special
visual programming environment, “Kokopelli’s World,” for which
an optics-only trackball was sufficient. This research methodology
is described. Aspects of the experience of programming, by one of
the authors, in the fMRI scanner are reported. An analysis of the
data from the scanning is presented, and brain areas where activity
for coding exceeded activity for a control task were identified and
are presented here. These observations suggest hypotheses and
directions for future research. One hypothesis is that particular
aspects of programming are inherently and measurably pleasurable. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1145/3532512.3535220 |
| DOI | 10.1145/3532512.3535220 |
| Citation Key | 16329 |
