Generative AI: A double-edged sword for creative thinking learning — Evidence from facial expressions and fNIRS

With the widespread integration of generative AI tools into educational contexts, understanding their influence on learners’ cognitive and emotional processes has become increasingly critical. While AI holds potential for enhancing creativity, its double-edged impact on neurocognitive and emotional processes still requires further investigation. This study investigates the impact of generative AI-based learning tools on the creative thinking learning process. Participants were divided into two groups: a generative AI design group and a traditional design group. They completed tasks employing the divergent brainstorming creative method and the structured innovation TRIZ method. During these tasks, both facial expressions and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data were collected to explore the effects of generative AI-assisted creative thinking education on students’ facial emotional changes and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation patterns. Expert evaluations were conducted to assess the outcomes of creative thinking. The results indicated that generative AI significantly enhanced creative thinking performance. Facial emotion analysis revealed that, with generative AI assistance, the brainstorming process generated more fear emotions, while the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) design process produced more happiness emotions. fNIRS data showed that, with generative AI support, the brainstorming process facilitated activation in the right DLPFC, while the TRIZ design process activated both the left and right DLPFC areas. Machine learning classifiers indicated that facial emotion and fNIRS data could serve as effective indicators for assessing creative thinking performance. The CatBoost classifier achieved an accuracy rate of 91.40 %/89.06 % in the two groups. This study focuses on learners’ facial emotions and PFC activity, revealing that while generative AI enhances creative thinking performance, it may also increase negative emotions. The findings call for caution in using generative AI in creativity education to avoid potential negative psychological effects on students, despite its benefits in promoting creative thinking.