Neurowoods: Emotion-Adaptive Virtual Environments for Enhancing Emotion Regulation
This thesis examines the effectiveness of real-time EEG-driven feedback in a virtual forest environment designed to enhance emotional regulation and cognitive engagement. The NeuroWoods system integrates alpha wave-based feedback mechanisms into an immersive VR experience, enabling dynamic environmental adjustments in response to users' neurophysiological states. By comparing EEG-contingent feedback, randomized feedback, and non-feedback conditions, the study evaluates the impact of biologically contingent interaction on emotional outcomes, cognitive focus, and behavioral engagement within the environment.EEG data, self-reported emotional states, and behavioral metrics were collected and analyzed to assess the system’s influence on users’ relaxation, focus, and sense of agency. Findings demonstrate that real-time neurofeedback fosters greater increases in alpha relative power, positive emotional shifts, and mindful interaction patterns compared to control conditions. This work contributes to the growing body of research on affective computing and EEG-VR integration, offering insights for the development of emotionally adaptive digital environments that support psychological resilience and cognitive health.