Using Techniques from Neuroscience in Information Systems Modelling Research: A Systematic Mapping Study

Abstract

A lot of research has been done on use of conceptual models in information systems development. In other areas working with knowledge representations, such as linguistics and software engineering one has applied techniques from neuroscience to study the biological and neurological processes when working with textual knowledge structures in tasks such as program code debugging. The use of such techniques has only to a limited degree been used when it comes to our understanding of visual conceptual models so far. We will argue for the utility of using such techniques also for information systems modelling research and present a structured mapping study on the use of techniques from neuroscience to investigate how we work with visual conceptual models. The main approach is based on techniques used in multi-modal learning analytics, which investigates how performance on learning tasks is correlated with biometric data, collecting data in parallel from EEG, eye-tracking (ET), wristbands, and facial expression (through cameras). Through this study, we also identify gaps in our knowledge on information systems modelling, which can be filled with extending the use of collecting and analysing biometric data under modelling activities.