What part of the brain is involved in graphic design thinking in landscape architecture?

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 12; p. e0258413
• Main Authors: Tsai, Yu-Ping, Hung, Shih-Han, Huang, Tsung-Ren, Sullivan, William C., Tang, Shih-An, Chang, Chun-Yen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 23.12.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Architects; Biology and Life Sciences; Brain; Brain - physiology; Brain mapping; Brain Mapping - methods; Brain research; Brain stimulation; Cognition & reasoning; Computer Graphics; Copying; Cortex (frontal); Creativity; Design thinking; Designers; Frontal lobe; Functional Laterality; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Graphic design; Hemispheric laterality; Horticulture; Humans; Hypotheses; Interior design; Landscape architects; Landscape architecture; Landscape design; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Neuroimaging; Prefrontal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - physiology; Problem solving; Psychological aspects; R&D; Research & development; Research and Analysis Methods; Research design; Social Sciences; Thinking - physiology; Young Adult; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258413

Graphic design thinking is a key skill for landscape architects, but little is known about the links between the design process and brain activity. Based on Goel’s frontal lobe lateralization hypothesis (FLLH), we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brain activity of 24 designers engaging in four design processes—viewing, copy drawing, preliminary ideas, and refinement—during graphic design thinking. The captured scans produced evidence of dramatic differences between brain activity when copying an existing graphic and when engaging in graphic design thinking. The results confirm that designs involving more graphic design thinking exhibit significantly more activity in the left prefrontal cortex. These findings illuminate the design process and suggest the possibility of developing specific activities or exercises to promote graphic design thinking in landscape architecture.