Abstract
Yamazaki' study and a study by Yamazaki and Eto indicated that a combination of black text and a background color with high luminance and high brightness was not considered preferable for Web-based tests (WBTs). In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to examine if the scores of on-line English tests differed depending on the characteristics of a background color. By using near-infrared spectroscopy, relative changes in Hemoblobin (Hb) concentrations in the brains of test takers were observed to see how background colors can affect the functions of their brains. Twenty four subjects in their twenties took web-based English grammar and non-linguistic tests with white and blue background colors with black text. The average scores of the linguistic and non-linguistic tests for the blue background were higher than those for the white background among the subjects. In particular, a significant difference in subjects' performance was found between the white and blue backgrounds for the non-linguistic task. Two dimensional images of the Hb concentration changes obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain related to the frontal eye field were observed to be more active while the subjects were taking the tests with a white background. These results indicate that the combination of black text and white background encourages a test-taker to concentrate more on visual input from the screen rather than the test questions. They also suggest that the combination may not be the best choice for a background color of a WBT to assess test-takers' linguistic performance even though a white background is commonly used for WBTs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Communications in Computer and Information Science |
| Publisher | Springer Verlag |
| Pages | 3-15 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Volume | 246 CCIS |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783642420160 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
| Event | 16th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, KES 2012 - San Sebastian Duration: 2012 Sep 10 → 2012 Sep 12 |
Publication series
| Name | Communications in Computer and Information Science |
|---|---|
| Volume | 246 CCIS |
| ISSN (Print) | 18650929 |
Other
| Other | 16th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, KES 2012 |
|---|---|
| City | San Sebastian |
| Period | 12/9/10 → 12/9/12 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Background color
- Brain Functions
- Brodmann Areas
- Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
- Test performance
- Web-based test
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Science(all)
Cite this
Brain Activity Measurement for the Scores of On-line English Grammar Tests with White and Blue Backgrounds. / Yamazaki, Atsuko; Eto, Kaoru; Nakabayashi, Akane; Shimada, Hitomi.
Communications in Computer and Information Science. Vol. 246 CCIS Springer Verlag, 2013. p. 3-15 (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 246 CCIS).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Brain Activity Measurement for the Scores of On-line English Grammar Tests with White and Blue Backgrounds
AU - Yamazaki, Atsuko
AU - Eto, Kaoru
AU - Nakabayashi, Akane
AU - Shimada, Hitomi
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Yamazaki' study and a study by Yamazaki and Eto indicated that a combination of black text and a background color with high luminance and high brightness was not considered preferable for Web-based tests (WBTs). In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to examine if the scores of on-line English tests differed depending on the characteristics of a background color. By using near-infrared spectroscopy, relative changes in Hemoblobin (Hb) concentrations in the brains of test takers were observed to see how background colors can affect the functions of their brains. Twenty four subjects in their twenties took web-based English grammar and non-linguistic tests with white and blue background colors with black text. The average scores of the linguistic and non-linguistic tests for the blue background were higher than those for the white background among the subjects. In particular, a significant difference in subjects' performance was found between the white and blue backgrounds for the non-linguistic task. Two dimensional images of the Hb concentration changes obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain related to the frontal eye field were observed to be more active while the subjects were taking the tests with a white background. These results indicate that the combination of black text and white background encourages a test-taker to concentrate more on visual input from the screen rather than the test questions. They also suggest that the combination may not be the best choice for a background color of a WBT to assess test-takers' linguistic performance even though a white background is commonly used for WBTs.
AB - Yamazaki' study and a study by Yamazaki and Eto indicated that a combination of black text and a background color with high luminance and high brightness was not considered preferable for Web-based tests (WBTs). In this study, the authors conducted an experiment to examine if the scores of on-line English tests differed depending on the characteristics of a background color. By using near-infrared spectroscopy, relative changes in Hemoblobin (Hb) concentrations in the brains of test takers were observed to see how background colors can affect the functions of their brains. Twenty four subjects in their twenties took web-based English grammar and non-linguistic tests with white and blue background colors with black text. The average scores of the linguistic and non-linguistic tests for the blue background were higher than those for the white background among the subjects. In particular, a significant difference in subjects' performance was found between the white and blue backgrounds for the non-linguistic task. Two dimensional images of the Hb concentration changes obtained in the experiment showed that areas in the brain related to the frontal eye field were observed to be more active while the subjects were taking the tests with a white background. These results indicate that the combination of black text and white background encourages a test-taker to concentrate more on visual input from the screen rather than the test questions. They also suggest that the combination may not be the best choice for a background color of a WBT to assess test-takers' linguistic performance even though a white background is commonly used for WBTs.
KW - Background color
KW - Brain Functions
KW - Brodmann Areas
KW - Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
KW - Test performance
KW - Web-based test
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904597502&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84904597502&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-642-42017-7_1
DO - 10.1007/978-3-642-42017-7_1
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 9783642420160
VL - 246 CCIS
T3 - Communications in Computer and Information Science
SP - 3
EP - 15
BT - Communications in Computer and Information Science
PB - Springer Verlag
ER -