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In a search process, searchers review documents to gather information relevant to their information need (IN). During this process, searchers may experience the satisfaction of their IN, indicating they have gathered adequate relevant information to answer their need. This complex concept of satisfaction is the ultimate goal of search systems. Most studies in Information Retrieval (IR) have been attempted to understand how searchers' needs are satisfied based on behavioural observation. However, the psychophysiological manifestation during the moment of satisfaction still remains unclear. Here, we use functional Magnetic Resonance (fMRI) to investigate which brain regions are involved during the moment of satisfaction. Twenty-six participants participated in the experiment, designed to represent a search process while being scanned. Our result shows the human brain regions involved during the moment of satisfaction. These findings provide an important step in unravelling the concept of satisfaction in a search process.

Knowing when a searcher's information needs (IN) are satisfied is one of the ultimate goals in information retrieval. However, the psycho-physiological manifestation of the phenomenon remains unclear. In this study, we investigate brain manifestations of the moment when an IN is satisfied compared to when an IN is not satisfied. To achieve this, we used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity during an experimental task. The task was purposefully designed to simulate the information-seeking process and suit the fMRI experimental procedure. Twenty-nine participants engaged in an experimental task designed to represent a search process while being scanned. Our results indicated that both affective and cognitive processes are involved when an information need was being satisfied. These results are in distinction to when satisfaction was not obtained. These results provide insight into features of brain activity that can ultimately be developed to detect satisfaction in search systems with more portable brain imaging devices.

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