While some people perform better under pressure, others need relaxing and pleasant experiences to stay effective.
A recent study has revealed that everyday pleasures like listening to music and drinking coffee can positively impact brain activity, ultimately enhancing cognitive performance, especially in tasks that demand concentration and memory.
Let's find out more.
A new system to measure stress
MINDWATCH, a pioneering algorithm honed over six years, delves into the intricacies of an individual's brain activity by analyzing data gathered from wearable devices adept at tracking electrodermal activity (EDA).
This remarkable technology captures shifts in electrical conductance, intimately tied to emotional stress and the body's perspiration responses.
In this captivating study, individuals adorned with wristbands for skin monitoring and headbands for brain monitoring embarked on a cognitive journey.
They navigated a realm where the harmonious tunes of music, the aromatic embrace of coffee, and the personalized allure of perfumes converged to influence their cognitive prowess.
Their choices of stimuli were as unique as their preferences.
This enchanting experiment not only unveils the interplay between everyday pleasures and cognitive performance but also showcases the power of MINDWATCH in decoding the subtle dance of neural activity.
As participants immersed themselves in their chosen stimulants, their brain states transformed, revealing the intricate nuances of how music, coffee, and fragrance sculpted their cognitive landscapes.
They also undertook these tests without any stimuli.
The test results
The MINDWATCH algorithm revealed that music and coffee altered brain arousal, inducing a physiological "state of mind" characterized by increased "beta band" brain wave activity, associated with peak cognitive performance.
Perfume had a modest positive effect, warranting further investigation.
Familiar energetic music produced the most significant performance gains, followed by AI-generated music tailored to individual tastes.
Coffee led to notable but less pronounced improvements, and perfume had the most modest effects.
