How brain regions are activated during programming, logical reasoning and using language. Illustration by Johns Hopkins University.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University mapped the brain activity of experienced computer programmers as they puzzled over the code. As a result, the neural mechanics behind this increasingly sought-after skill became apparent.
Researchers have long suspected that the brain copes with programming in the same way it solves math problems or even understands language. However, new scientific work has shown that in experienced coders, most of the brain activity occurs in the area associated with logical reasoning, although it is concentrated in the left hemisphere, which is responsible for language abilities.
“People learn to code in many different ways, from self-study reading to formal courses. It's amazing that we find such a consistent pattern of brain activation in people who program, '' said study author Yun-Fei Liu, a graduate student at the university's neuroplasticity lab. “This is especially surprising because we know that the critical period for language acquisition usually ends in early adolescence. And many people learn to program as adults. "
The results of the study are published in the journal eLife.
Scientists have long figured out what happens in the brain when a person reads, plays a musical instrument, or does mathematics. But while we rely more and more on technology, we still know almost nothing about the neural mechanisms of computer programming.
“People want to know what makes a person a good programmer,” Liu said. "If we know which neurosystems are activated when someone writes code, then we can find a better way to train programmers."
According to Liu, many people assume that techies have a mathematical mindset and that the area of the brain for programming will be the same as that for solving mathematical problems. Others believe that programming languages are called languages for a reason. Therefore, the neural engine underlying programming will be used in conjunction with language processing. Or it could be parts of the brain used for logical reasoning that are responsible for a way of solving problems known as "executive control."
To figure this out, Liu brought together 15 experienced programmers who are fluent in Python. Each of the subjects went to an fMRI scanner to measure brain activity during programming.
Each time, the same area of the brain caught fire: the one responsible for logical reasoning. Although logical reasoning is not tied to a specific hemisphere of the brain, coding has largely favored the left side, which is preferred for language.
Now the lab hopes to determine whether it is easier to learn programming as a teenager, as well as learning a language.
“It's true, adults can learn to program. But maybe the kids are doing better? Or programming does not have a critical learning period, which makes the skill special, says co-author Marina Bedny, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences. “Perhaps our education system is not working properly, and we have to teach children to code in high school, otherwise they miss the opportunity to become better specialists.”
