Comparing Programming Language Comprehension between Novice and Expert Programmers Using EEG Analysis
Authors:
- SeolHwa LeeSLSeolHwa Lee
- Andrew MattesonAMAndrew Matteson
- Danial HooshyarDHDanial Hooshyar
- SongHyun KimSKSongHyun Kim
- JaeBum JungJJJaeBum Jung
- GiChun NamGNGiChun Nam
- HeuiSeok LimHLHeuiSeok Lim
- 1 October 2016
- conference paper
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- p. 350-355
Abstract
For programming language comprehension, high cognitive skills (e.g., reading, writing, working memory, etc.) and information processing are required. However, there are few papers that approach this from a neuroscientific perspective. In this paper, we examine program comprehension neuroscientifically and also observe the differences between novice and expert programmers. We designed an EEG (electroencephalogram) experiment and observed 18 participants during a series of program comprehension tasks. We found clear differences in program comprehension ability between novice and expert programmers. Experts exhibited higher brainwave activation than novices in electrodes F3 and P8. These results indicate that experts have outstanding program comprehension-associated abilities such as digit encoding, coarse coding, short-term memory, and subsequent memory effect. Our findings can serve as a foundation for future research in this pioneering field.Keywords
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