Thematic Area 2: Neuropsychological Research and Design on Well-being and Happiness

Project A: Savoring -This project explores how focusing on cherished memories can enhance emotional well-being. Participants are shown emotional faces (happy, sad, angry, neutral) in a Go/No-Go task, while their own meaningful memory photos are used as savoring stimuli. Early findings suggest that savoring boosts brain activity linked with positive affect, engagement, and emotional integration, offering insights into how simple reflective practices can strengthen resilience.

Fig: Experient Design of Savoring project

Fig: Averaged spectral analysis topoplots of Savoring and Neutral Conditions

Project B: Compassion-In this study, researchers are building personalized self-compassion stories using an AI-driven story engine. Participants complete short pre-experiment evaluations, which then guide the creation of individualized narratives embedding kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity. Reflection prompts deepen the impact. With EEG and fNIRS capturing brain responses, this project aims to design culturally relevant narrative tools that help young adults practice self-kindness and emotional resilience in everyday life.

Fig: EEG and fNIRS data recording.

Project C: Nature and Mindfulness- Mindfulness is being tested in real-world contexts. Participants watch nature videos ( original sounds or soft flute music) and compare them with urban scenes (busy roads and walks) or neutral everyday videos (such as pizza-making). The study tracks how these experiences influence attention, mood, and neural responses. By connecting nature-based mindfulness with modern neuroscience, this project shows how the environment shapes the practice of awareness and calm.

Fig: Experiment Design of mindfulness

Fig: Participants are presented with video stimuli: nature, urban, and neutral.

Project D: Gratitude- The Gratitude project team is developing an interactive choice-based story game to help participants experience gratitude in a culturally resonant way. Unlike a traditional RPG, this game presents meaningful life scenarios where participants make choices that reveal the role of gratitude in relationships and well-being. Once complete, the game will be paired with EEG, fNIRS, and psychological assessments, offering a new way to teach gratitude through play.

Fig: Game environment

Thematic Area 3: Planetary Well-being

This thematic area examines two research questions through neuropsych studies; a.  How Climate Change affects cognition and well-being? , and b. How can education support Planetary Well-being? The insights from the research are used to develop class room ready pedagogical tools for young children. The work aligns with UNESCO Greening Education guidelines, NEP 2020 guidelines of India.

Key research studies and  insights

i. Nature Experience and Attention- The nature experience and its association with fronto-parietal brain activity explore how exposure to natural environments influences cognitive and emotional processes regulated by these brain regions. Our research investigating these neural correlates highlights the role of attention, executive function, and emotional regulation engaged during interactions with nature. Understanding these mechanisms contributes to broader insights on how fostering human-nature connections can support planetary well-being by promoting sustainable behaviors, environmental awareness, and resilience in the face of ecological challenges.

ii. Climate Anxiety and Cognitive Functioning-The study investigates how negative climate emotions, such as anxiety and distress related to environmental crises, significantly impair cognitive functioning, affecting attention, decision-making, and emotional regulation. These disruptions not only impact individual well-being but also hinder collective action crucial for planetary health. Addressing the cognitive effects of climate-related emotions through education is therefore vital to fostering resilience and promoting sustainable behaviors essential for the well-being of both people and the planet.

iii. Greening Education in Primary School Settings-The pilot implementation of Nature-Based Learning with a “Whole School Approach”  shows that it helps in -

○ Academic learning

○ Deeper Awareness and care for the environment.

○ Better Social–Emotional Learning

iv. Nature Empathy - The research utilizes EEG/ERP techniques to investigate how the human brain responds to witnessing nature in distress, with a focus on studying the effects on young children. Findings reveal distinct neural markers for affective and cognitive empathy toward nature, and document shifts from emotional resonance to more conscious appraisal during development. This neurophysiological evidence underscores empathy’s critical role in promoting conservation behaviors and sustainable action from an early age. By demonstrating the value of fostering nature empathy through education, this work highlights its importance for planetary wellbeing and long-term sustainability.

Fig. Topographical representation on higher mental effort on a subsequent cognitive task when presented with negative climate images vs neutral and positive images as affective primes. Darker colors represent higher amplitudes representing mental effort