Using Biometric Tools to Investigate How Students Cognitively Process the Structure of Prostaglandin H 2 Synthase

Abstract

Protein representations such as those found in the Protein Data Bank repository are important for any practicing biochemist to be able to use, interpret, and manipulate; skills commonly referred to as visual literacy in biochemistry. As such, any student enrolled in a biochemistry course should be trained in these skills. However, little is known as to how students navigate these 3-dimensional representations and how to best teach these skills to biochemistry students, especially using virtual 3D modeling software. An additional barrier to learning these skills are that they are associated with the students’ spatial ability. The proposed study uses biometric tools such as eye tracking and electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate how biochemistry students cognitively process and use modeling software UCSF Chimera to explore the structure of Prostaglandin H2 Synthase. Nine biochemistry students were sampled at a metropolitan Midwestern campus in fall 2018 while completing the activity. During the activity, the students’ cognitive processing was captured using EEG while gaze patterns and areas of fixation were captured by Tobii Glasses 2. Additionally, each student completed a series of spatial ability assessments (Hidden Figures Test and Purdue Visualizations of Rotations Test) to capture their level of ability to think visually. This presentation will answer the following research questions: 1) Which combination of electrode channels suggests the most appropriate measurement of cognitive load? 2) How does the cognitive load measurement change when students analyze a quaternary structure versus a tertiary structure of the same protein? and 3) How can we optimize the cognitive load of a 3D virtual modeling activity? The answers to these questions will be used to improve the activity for replication in following years in hopes of decreasing the impact of extraneous factors on cognition and providing the mental space needed for learning the skills associated with visual literacy in biochemistry.