An EEG-based positive feedback mechanism for VR mindfulness meditation to improve emotion regulation

Abstract—Virtual reality (VR) mindfulness meditation has emerged as a prominent emotion regulation strategy in recent years. Current research often seeks to enhance meditation effectiveness through biofeedback and overlooks the trajectory of emotional changes and the changing needs during regulation. In this study, we propose an electroencephalography (EEG)–based positive feedback mechanism for VR mindfulness meditation aimed at optimizing the effects of emotion regulation. This mechanism consists of three modules: 1) EEG-Based Emotional State Computation, 2) Process-Based Relaxation Assessment, and 3) Adaptive Positive Decision Feedback. Collectively, these components form a computation-assessment-feedback closed-loop system that objectively quantifies emotions while enabling realtime decision adjustments based on emotional trends, thereby enhancing user engagement and emotion regulation efficacy through personalized feedback. The contribution of the proposed feedback mechanism was evaluated through a randomized controlled trial (N=36). The results indicated that both physiological measures and self-reported relaxation significantly increased when compared to interventions without feedback. These findings validate that the EEG-based positive feedback mechanism effectively enhances emotion regulation while providing additional insights into improving both the engagement and effectiveness within digital mental health interventions.