Generative Design for Cognitive and Emotional Augmentation

Cognisense is an immersive generative design installation that transforms real-time neurophysiological data into responsive visual and auditory environments, offering participants a multi-sensory space for emotional regulation, cognitive enhancement, and mental wellness. Blending neuroscience, design research, and affective computation, the project reimagines how generative art and interactive design can serve as tools for healing in the age of overstimulation and psychological distress. The system works by translating live brainwave data into continuous, computationally meaningful signals that shape the generative experience in real time. Using a four-channel EEG headband (AF7, AF8, TP9, TP10), the project continuously measures electrical activity in the brain across five canonical frequency bands: delta (0.5–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (13–30 Hz), and gamma (30–100 Hz). Each band is associated with specific cognitive and emotional states, ranging from deep rest (delta) to focused attention (beta) and heightened perception (gamma). Power levels in each frequency band are extracted in decibels (dB) and normalized using custom Python calculations. These normalized values (ranging from 0 to 1) are then broadcast over Open Sound Control (OSC) as five continuous signals. This live data stream forms the basis of Cognisense’s generative system, driving moment-to-moment transformations in color palette, form dynamics, motion speed, spatial rhythm, and audio design. For example, an increase in alpha activity might generate pastel-colored mandala-like geometries, while a spike in beta could initiate angular, fast-moving visuals and sharper sound textures. In parallel, electrodermal activity (EDA)—a measure of skin conductance linked to emotional arousal—is recorded as an independent physiological metric. Although not used to modulate the experience in real time, EDA provides a critical reference for evaluating autonomic shifts during each session, supporting both scientific inquiry and reflective interpretation. Real-time biofeedback is used to assess the user’s current emotional and cognitive state, enabling the system to generate a session tailored to their needs, whether to ease stress, anxiety, or depressive symptoms, or to promote focus, alertness, or a more neutral, balanced state. Before the experience, users are invited to select their desired post-session outcome, which guides how the system shapes the generative stimuli. Pre- and post-session self-assessments further contextualize the physiological data, offering insight into the effectiveness of the intervention. This adaptive process transforms Cognisense from a passive environment into a responsive, co-creative interface—one that listens to the nervous system and modulates its output in service of emotional recalibration and cognitive care.