Measuring neural efficiency of program comprehension
Measuring neural efficiency of program comprehension
复制标题
测量程序理解的神经效率
DOI：
10.1145/3106237.3106268
复制
发表时间：
2017
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
A. Brechmann
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
J. Siegmund;Norman Peitek;Chris Parnin;S. Apel;Johannes C. Hofmeister;Christian Kästner;Andrew Begel;A. Bethmann;A. Brechmann
大多数现代软件程序不可能由一个程序员完全理解。相反，程序员必须依赖于一组认知过程，这些过程有助于为给定的编程任务寻找、过滤和塑造相关信息。已经提出了几个理论来解释这些过程，例如用于定位相关代码的“信标”和用于编码认知模型的“计划”。然而，这些理论已经有几十年的历史了，缺乏现代认知神经科学方法的验证。在本文中，我们报告了一项使用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）对11名参与者进行程序理解任务的研究。我们操纵了与信标和布局相关的实验条件，分离了与自下而上理解和基于语义线索的理解相关的特定认知过程。我们发现了自下而上理解过程中语义块化的证据，以及基于语义线索的理解过程中大脑区域激活程度较低的证据，证实了信标有助于理解。
Most modern software programs cannot be understood in their entirety by a single programmer. Instead, programmers must rely on a set of cognitive processes that aid in seeking, filtering, and shaping relevant information for a given programming task. Several theories have been proposed to explain these processes, such as ``beacons,' for locating relevant code, and ``plans,'' for encoding cognitive models. However, these theories are decades old and lack validation with modern cognitive-neuroscience methods. In this paper, we report on a study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with 11 participants who performed program comprehension tasks. We manipulated experimental conditions related to beacons and layout to isolate specific cognitive processes related to bottom-up comprehension and comprehension based on semantic cues. We found evidence of semantic chunking during bottom-up comprehension and lower activation of brain areas during comprehension based on semantic cues, confirming that beacons ease comprehension.
DOI：
10.1073/pnas.90.8.3770
发表时间：
1993-04-15
影响因子：
11.1
作者：
CHANCE, B;ZHUANG, Z;LIPTON, L
通讯作者：
LIPTON, L