...it might be that people with better executive control are more
likely to persist with computer programming. If the latter is
true, one way to help people learn computer programming might
be to teach them a foreign language first.
It might be possible or more straightforward to study the connection between learning/using a non-native language and expressing a solution to some problem programmatically by measuring brainwaves and active areas the cerebral cortex while performing these activities. It seems like this would be step 1, which would then be backed up with behavioral studies such the on in the OP.
Can someone with a neuro background comment on this?
I don't really know what you're talking about, but the mental effort of expressing an algorithm in English seems similar to the effort of expressing some thought in Spanish. (I learned Spanish as a second language.)
Part of the effort is translating vocab, but the trickier part is changing paradigms to express an idea. Code has functions and for loops and control statements. English takes lots of connecting words and loops are trickier to explain. English to Spanish requires switching word order but even tricker is changing to different idioms for common ideas.
EEG-based techniques are better for responses to sudden events.
It would be interesting to analyse the brain activity while devising algorithms to solve problems, for example.
The algorithm design doesn't have to be explicit. Just ask people to solve a problem with different solutions, some of which are algorithmically more elegant than others.
You could also ask programmers to write programs in the MRI, and check what brain regions are activated.
I wouldn't be surprised if functional and imperative programming activated different brain areas.
Can someone with a neuro background comment on this?
[Edit: formatting]