Adaptive Cognitive Relaxation through EEG-Based Selection of 360 Real Environments: A Study Using the WAVEX EEG-VR Platform

Chronic stress is a growing global health concern, contributing to mental and physical disorders that reduce qual- ity of life and productivity. In response, this study introduces a novel neuroadaptive methodology for inducing cognitive relax- ation through immersive 360° real-world environments, guided by real-time brainwave analysis. Participants wore WAVEX, a custom-designed EEG-VR headset that integrates dry EEG sensors and motion tracking for seamless neurophysiological monitoring within virtual reality. Each participant was exposed to five one-minute 360° videos, during which two neural features—Relative Gamma (RG) power and the Beta/Alpha Ratio (BAR)—were computed to assess the degree of cognitive relaxation. To enhance detection accuracy and robustness, we further propose a new composite metric, the Composite EEG Relaxation Index (CERI), which combines RG and BAR into a unified measure of mental relaxation. The video associated with the most relaxed brain response, as determined by these metrics, was then replayed for an additional one-minute session. Results from thirty participants demonstrated that the system consistently identified the environment that elicited the lowest arousal and highest relaxation levels. These findings highlight the potential of WAVEX as a brainwave-responsive tool for rapid, personalized stress reduction and cognitive wellness. The technology will be showcased at World Expo Osaka 2025 as a forward-looking demonstration of how neuroadaptive systems can support mental health in everyday settings.