Neurocognition of Design Creativity Studied with EEG: A Systematic Literature Review

Design cognition refers to fundamental mental processes and the ability to create design outcomes when facing complex problems. Creativity is essential in design activities and is, therefore, a target of investigation in design cognition. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a technique utilized to investigate brain functions by measuring the electrical signals from electrodes placed on the scalp. Due to the unstructured nature of design activities, which often result in open-ended and ambiguous outcomes, there has been limited research on the neuroscience of design creativity. In this study, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and included seven papers in the final review stage to investigate and summarize the neurocognitive aspects of design creativity in current research. We compiled information regarding design tasks, EEG indexes, and the assessment of design creativity and offered insights on recommendations for utilizing the EEG technique in researching the neurocognitive aspects of design creativity.