Apparently, emotions affect our cognitive abilities. While some positive feelings stimulate them, negative effects like boredom, apathy, and frustration can dull them. “For example, everyone knows that a student who sits down to take an exam while highly stressed may retain less of their knowledge,” says Alexie Byrns, a specialist in neuroscience and artificial intelligence at BMU.
The emotions we feel in a place or situation play an important role. While this can be an issue for anyone, it's even more so when the person's mental functions are in decline, as happens in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
BMU has therefore designed virtual- or augmented-reality environments to help them. “We are able to measure user emotions in these virtual spaces,” adds Yan Cyr. Using artificial intelligence, we can customize it in real time to improve the cognitive status of those who are there.”
These “neuroadaptive” environments adapt to the individual by altering various sensory elements like music, lighting, or the presence of animals or other people. “A dog that barks and creates discomfort will stop immediately,” Byrns explains. "You can also adjust the animal's distance. Some people love having the animal close by, while others prefer it to be farther away." The type of animal can also change. At the Pompidou centre in Nice, instead of introducing users to a dog, they opted for ... a foal!
