Research Project Overview and Description:
This project develops a demonstrable art-tech prototype that translates brainwave-based signals into a game-like, immersive well-being experience. Building upon neuroscientific research on meditation and stress-reduction from the Centre of Buddhist Studies, the project utilizes the existing immersive environment facilities in the Arts Technology Lab (ATL) to create a cost-effective, single-user system. It addresses the need for accessible technologies that allow inner mental states to dynamically interact with external digital environments, supporting self-observation and calmness without requiring clinical or diagnostic claims.
To achieve this, the system uses a wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) headband paired with TouchDesigner and Three.js software to generate an abstract universe of particles, light fields, and nebula-like forms. The underlying engine measures a “relaxed alertness index” by tracking stabilized relative alpha power, gated by low beta variance and high signal-quality flags. As participants engage in a guided session, their mind states—such as relaxation or focus—trigger specific visual mapping rules, including “Light Zone Expansion” and “Constellation Formation”. Furthermore, a game-like AI reflective agent provides prompts to help users understand the relationship between their internal focus and the visual feedback they are experiencing.
Research Outcome
The immediate deliverables of this project include a fully documented single-user TouchDesigner executable and a reusable Python middleware template for EEG stabilization. To validate the system, the team will conduct a pilot study with 15–20 adult participants from HKU. This study will assess the technical stability and visual interpretability of the prototype, alongside gathering self-reported metrics on calmness, clarity, and user agency through standardized questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
Beyond the prototype itself, the project is designed to yield significant academic and community impacts. The team plans to host an InnoArts workshop and public experience sessions at the ATL to increase institutional visibility and public engagement. Academically, the findings will support two planned manuscript submissions to peer-reviewed journals (Sensors and Neuroimaging), and the validated prototype data will be leveraged to apply for larger external grants, such as the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) and the Quality Education Fund (QEF).
About the researcher
Dr. Junling Gao is a Research Assistant Professor at the Centre of Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong. He is a neuroscientist specializing in neuropsychology, with research interests focusing on the neuroscientific study of meditation, religious chanting, and mindfulness. He holds a PhD in Neurology from the Medical School at HKU and a Master of Buddhist Studies from the same institution. His work often integrates clinical neurology training with religious studies to explore mental exercise and its effects on brain health and emotional regulation using neuroimaging techniques like EEG and fMRI.
Fund Source
Seed Fund for Staff (pending)
For enquiries
please contact at atlabhku.hk