Direct Measurement of Curiosity using the Mindwave Mobile

After reading this article by Kang, et al. (2008), I have been semi-obsessed with what is ACTUALLY happening, from a cognitive perspective, when a student feels "curious". As Sir Ken Robinson says: "Curiosity is the engine of achievement", and the below graph, depicting "accuracy rates" when answering complex math problems, as a function of curiosity, models this engine well (Kang, et al., 2008):

Although the article linked above provides incredible insight into how the brain responds to the "Information Gap" hypothesis, described in this article by Loewestein (1998), that most curiosity research is based, the direct measurements utilized fMRI technology that, outside of a lab setting, could not be realistically harnessed by educators on a daily basis. The below image shows one such fMRI output:

In search of a cheap  and more tangible way to transcend surveys and find a way to "peek in", I stumbled across this article by Salubin (2014) that leverages the "Mindwave", a device made by NeuroSky that can provide simple brainwave measurements. Best of all, the device, unlike the tens of thousands of dollars you would spend on an fMRI machine (not too mention the medical licensing required), can be purchased for under $100. The below video explains how the the Mindwave works:

Using the "Brainwave Visualizer" software mentioned, an example of a Mindwave output is shown below:

According to the handbook published by NeuroSky, the mental states associated with the brainwave outputs (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma) shown above are noted in the table below:

From the perspective of somebody who KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT NEUROSCIENCE, a quick analysis of these mental states show an increase in consciousness as one progresses from Delta to Beta; growing more alert and focused, ultimately ending agitated and perhaps even stressed as one approaches the "High Beta" range. Keeping these states in mind, the question surfaces: What sort of mental states are amplified when a student is curious about at topic? If indeed, this question can be answered, or at least explored, Kang et. al's (2008) call to find a more cost affordable way to directly measure student curiosity can be addressed, and perhaps, the "achievement engine" that Sir Ken Robinson discusses, can be amplified. Having only just purchased my first  Mindwave, the below procedure/observations represents what I hope, is the beginning of an in-depth exploration on how this new device can help teachers learn more about the impact changing pedagogy has on student learning:

Research Question What is the relationship between curiosity and student mental state as measured by brainwave frequency output?

Methods

1. After surveying 100 high school chemistry students, this short clip derived from the fertilizer explosion in West Texaswas chosen to be the strongest "curiosity spark" from a group of different clips. Curiosity was defined explained to students as having a "need to know more about what happens".
2. Four students then watched the clip while their brain wave outputs were analyzed.
3. The average distribution of the outputs in a two-second time frame following the spark was created.
4. Once a baseline was established, this clip, called the "Bending Match" trick, was chosen from a new group of clips by the same 100 chemistry students as having the highest curiosity rating. The clip was played without sound.
5. Brain wave outputs were then analyzed an compared to the baseline and the same average distribution in the two seconds following the spark was created

Results

Curiosity Baseline Average Distribution (via Fertilizer Explosion clip) Picture	Second Curiosity Distribution (via Bending Match trick) Picture

Discussion A striking similarity between the two outputs is their "heart-like" shape. Both student-vetted curiosity sparks showed a dip in the Delta range and activation in the Theta and Alpha ranges. These observations align with the claim that curiosity can produce a mental state that supports active learning. The fertilizer explosion also produced more High Beta activity than the gradual match trick, which may reflect the stronger shock and fear reported by the class. More observations are needed to determine whether these patterns hold across other curiosity sparks and whether High Beta activity fuels or inhibits the "achievement engine."