一句话：首次用经颅磁刺激（TMS）对编程认知进行因果性神经研究，检验脑区活动与编程结果是否存在因果关系。
理解认知与编程结果的关系有助于设计干预，使新手更快成为专家。已有编程神经影像研究多报告相关性，无法确定因果。本文首次采用经颅磁刺激（TMS）开展编程认知的因果神经研究：TMS 可暂时、无创地干扰特定脑区，作者在干扰特定脑区后测量编程结果，从而判断脑区活动与编程表现之间是否存在真实因果关系。据作者所知，这也是 TMS 首次用于软件工程研究。
Understanding the relationship between cognition and programming outcomes is important: it can inform interventions that help novices become experts faster. Neuroimaging techniques can measure brain activity, but prior studies of programming report only correlations. We present the first causal neurological investigation of the cognition of programming by using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS permits temporary and noninvasive disruption of specific brain regions. By disrupting brain regions and then measuring programming outcomes, we discover whether a true causal relationship exists. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first use of TMS to study software engineering.
@inproceedings{paperbot11370,
title = {Causal Relationships and Programming Outcomes: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Experiment},
author = {Hammad Ahmad and Madeline Endres and Kaia Newman and Priscila Santiesteban and Emma Shedden and Westley Weimer},
booktitle = {ICSE},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1145/3597503.3639096}
}