Specifically crafted sensory stimulation can influence brain function and potentially improve cognition. In this project, we developed software for wearable devices to improve attention using rhythmic sound, light, and vibration. Our results showed that the wearables could improve sustained attention and modulated brain activity.
Our current research focuses particularly on altering physiology using vibration which can be delivered through consumer smartwatches. We are exploring how different patterns of vibration can improve cognitive performance and modify physiology, with potential benefits for attention, mood, exercise performance, and overall health.
Nathan W Whitmore*, Samantha Chan*, Jingru Zhang, Patrick Chwalek, Sam Chin, and Pattie Maes. 2024. Improving Attention Using Wearables via Haptic and Multimodal Rhythmic Stimuli. In Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '24). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 80, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642256