Application Development and Emerging Technologies, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2024 1
CITE 1008
Advancing Mental Wellness Through Mindsync: An AI
Driven Neurofeedback Therapy App
Rusty Diopol*, Cancio, Alvan Rei A.**, Persian Maguillano**, Azriel Jed Tiad**, Joresa
Pabalate** , Anton Serquillos**, Albert Ocampo**
* College of Information and Communications Technology
STI West Negros University
Abstract
MindSync is an innovative mobile application designed to
enhance mental wellness through the integration of MindSync addresses this demand through an innovative
neurotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), and wearable combination of neurotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), and
devices. Utilizing real-time electroencephalogram (EEG) wearable devices. Paired with a lightweight, flexible
feedback, the app provides personalized neurofeedback therapyelectroencephalogram (EEG) headset, MindSync monitors brain
to help users manage stress, improve focus, and boost cognitiveactivity and provides real-time neurofeedback, offering insights
performance. MindSync differentiates itself from traditional into mental states and actionable solutions to enhance cognitive
mental wellness solutions by dynamically adapting to users’ health. Leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) integration, the app
brain activity, offering AI-driven therapy plans tailored to ensures seamless communication between the EEG headset and
individual needs, and tracking progress over time. This paper mobile application, enabling realtime Neurofeedback data flow
outlines the conceptualization, system design, and development recommendations.
methodology of MindSync, emphasizing its potential to bridge and adaptive therapy
gaps in accessibility and personalization within existing mental
wellness platforms. Initial studies and literature suggest
Many existing mental wellness therapy apps lack personalized
promising applications for neurofeedback in improving cognitive
health, positioning MindSync as a comprehensive and impactfulfeedback mechanisms and rely on generalized approaches, such
solution for modern mental health challenges. as Calm and Headspace’s pre-recorded meditations or
Lumosity’s static brain-training exercises. These apps offer
Index Terms - Neurofeedback, Neurotechnology, Artificial
valuable support but fail to adapt to real-time brain activity or
Intelligence, Electroencephalogram (EEG), Mental Wellness, cognitive states. MindSync addresses this gap with its real-time
Cognitive Performance, Internet of Things (IoT) neurofeedback and AI-driven personalization, which dynamically
tailors solutions to the user’s current mental state. Unlike
competitors, MindSync provides immediate, precise
I. INTRODUCTION interventions that improve focus and reduce stress, offering more
effective and targeted support for mental wellness.
Mental wellness challenges such as stress, an
COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is evident in many counties
Neurofeedback therapy and EEG have shown significant
potential in improving cognitive health. For instance, a
across the Globe [1], with an increase of 25% of anxiety and
systematic review of randomized controlled trials involving
depression during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic
1,636 articles found that neurofeedback training significantly
according to the World Health Organization [2]. Now more
reduced ADHD symptoms in children, leading to improvements
people are seeking mental health support and services [3][4]
in attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity [8]. Additionally,
a
that study with 890 participants demonstrated
electroencephalogram (EEG) could effectively distinguish
between healthy controls, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and
Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and monitor disease
progression [9]. Furthermore, a systematic review and meta-
analysis concluded that neurofeedback training can enhance
cognitive performance in healthy subjects, with significant
improvements in attention, memory, and executive functions
[10].
This project details the conceptualization, system design, and
See Figure 1:[15] i m ple m entation phases of MindSync. Key focus areas include its
innovative use of EEG headsets for neurofeedback, AI
STI West Negros University
Application Development and Emerging Technologies, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2024 2
CITE 1008
algorithms for personalization, and the mobile application's role scientific validity of neurofeedback therapy [12].
in delivering these features.
A. Problem Statements (SWOT Analysis)
Strengths B. Specific Objectives
- Innovative Technology: - Develop a mobile application utilizing EEG headsets to
combines neurotechnology (EEG headsets) and AI, provide neurofeedback-based mental wellness solutions.
making it unique compared to traditional mental wellness - Integrate AI algorithms, including machine learning for
apps,
identifying cognitive patterns, natural language processing
- Personalization and Customization: (NLP) for interpreting user feedback, reinforcement learning
Offers AI-driven therapy plans that can be customized by (RL) for dynamically adjusting personalized therapy plans, and
the user or have the app adapt to the user’s neurofeedback support vector machine (SVM) to classify EEG data.
data to create therapy plans based on AI Algorithms - Offer tools to track cognitive states and health over. Such as a
- Comprehensive Features: user-friendly interface that displays current brain activity. And
a tool that lets its user customize their own therapy plans or
Offers realtime neurofeedback, progress tracking, and have the app make one for them
personalized mental health insights
- Address data privacy concerns with AES(Advanced
encryption standard) - 256 Bit and complying with
international privacy regulations such as, HIPAA, and ISO/IEC
Weaknesses 27001 to safeguard user data.[13][14]
- Cost and Accessibility:
The initial cost of the EEG headsets may deter some users,
limiting accessibility for lower-income groups [11] II. METHODOLOGY
- Reliance on EEG Device accuracy:
A. Data Gathering Process
The effectiveness depends heavily on the accuracy and
compatibility of the EEG headsets, which could vary.
• A review of current EEG devices and neurofeedback
- Limited Support for acute mental health issues: apps identify key features and gaps in existing
solutions. This will help shape MindSync’s unique
While MindSync addresses general mental wellness, it features, focusing on real-time feedback,
may not be equipped to handle severe mental health personalization, and ease of use.
conditions such as clinical depression or PTSD, which
might limit its application and target audience. Surveys and user feedback will be collected to
•
understand
such common mental wellness challenges,
as stress and anxiety, over a diverse range of age
Opportunities groups, as well as providing more data to the AI
Algorithm in order to improve its adaptability. The
- Feature Expansion:
feedback will be used to create new ideas on how
Adding gamification, multilingual support, or integrations to
with existing wellness platforms could enhance appeal. improve the app.
- Improving Mental Health Awareness: • Mental health experts will be consulted to align
The increasing global demand for mental wellness MindSync's therapeutic goals with proven clinical
solutions creates a vast potential user base. practices. Their input will ensure that the app’s AI-
driven personalization system is both effective and
- Partnership: ethical in supporting users' mental wellness.
Collaboration with mental health professionals,
researchers, or healthcare organizations could bolster
credibility and adoption. B. System Development Methodology Phases
Threats Agile methodology is particularly well-suited for developing
- Market Competition: MindSync due to its flexibility, iterative approach, and focus
on delivering continuous improvement, which are essential
Established apps (e.g., Calm, Headspace) have large user when developing a dynamic, user-focused application like
bases and significant resources for innovation. MindSync.
1. Requirement Analysis and Design: Stakeholder
- Skepticism on Neurofeedback
meetings to finalize app features and architecture. The
Some users or experts may question the efficacy or technical team will focus on designing the system’s
STI West Negros University
Application Development and Emerging Technologies, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2024 3
CITE 1008
architecture and coming up with wireframes and provide a therapy plan to be followed, using AI
prototypes to visualize the layout, the team will also Algorithms such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), it
incorporate appropriate technologies for the frontend will be used to classify EEG data into mental states (e.g.
and backend, this phase will also include the integration calm & stressed), it will analyze users’ neurofeedback
of IoT into suitable electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns and adjusts interventions in real-time using the
headsets. Algorithm
Reinforcement Learning (AL)
2. Development
Modules: of Core
3. Testing and Quality Assurance: To test Mindsync’s
The neurofeedback module will be developed to process
functionality and usability on different devices we will
real-time EEG data. The system captures and analyzes
be using Appium to create test scenarios to validate the
brainwave activity, providing users with immediate
system’s ability to process EEG data and update the UI
feedback.
in real time and to verify that therapy plans are
The integration of IoT ensures seamless communication
accurately generaed and tailored to user input and
between the EEG device and the mobile app with the
feedback
help of Websockets, a communication protocol great for
real-time apps. To further secure connection, a system
4. Deployment and Feedback: Continuous updates will
will be implemented that will handle error handling,
such as when a sudden loss connection happens a be made to address user feedback, fix bugs, and enhance
the
or application based on emerging needs
fallback mechanism trigger to store EEG data
technological advancements. The development team
temporarily on the headset and sync it with the app once will continue to release incremental updates to improve
re-established.
the connection is the user experience, add new features, and refine AI
models as more data is collected.
This phase will also implement the AI Personalization
Engine, It will adapt to its users’ mental state and
III. SYSTEM DESIGN
C. Actvity Diagram
In this section of the project, we will briefly overview the various
diagrams relating to Mindsync:
A. System Decomposition Diagram
See Figure 2.
B. Use Case Diagram
See Figure 3. See Figure 4.
STI West Negros University
Application Development and Emerging Technologies, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2024 4
CITE 1008
D. Sequence Diagram - Scalability -Usability -Reliability -Maintainability
H. Software Requirements:
Frontend:
Firebase for real-time data synchronization and notifications.
Backend:
Django for the backend server, managing user data, therapy
plans, and processing feedback.
TensorFlow/PyTorch for AI model development, including
algorithms, Support Vector Machine (SVM), for EEG data
classification and personalization of therapy plans.
Database:
Relational
data, Database (MySQL) to store user profiles, session
EEG data, therapy plans, and progress tracking information.
See Figure 5. Real-Time Communication:
WebSockets
the for seamless, real-time communication between
E. Data Flow Diagram
mobile app and EEG devices.
REST API for integration with external services or additional
devices, if necessary.
Encryption:
AES-256 encryption to ensure the security and privacy of
sensitive user data (e.g., EEG readings).
I. Hardware Requirements (Optional):
EEG Headset:
A lightweight, flexible EEG headset that can connect to the
mobile application via Bluetooth or other wireless protocols.
The headset should provide accurate readings of brainwave
activity and be compatible with the app’s real-time data
processing capabilities.
Mobile Devices:The app should be compatible with modern
smartphones running iOS (version X and above) or Android
(version 8.0 and above) with Bluetooth capabilities for EEG
device integration.
See Figure 6. Server: The backend system should be hosted on reliable
F. Functional Requirements cloud
- User Authentication infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud) to support
- Real-Time EEG Data Processing scalability,
- Personalized Therapy Plans high availability, and security.
- Progress Tracking
- Real-Time Feedback
- Survey and Feedback Collection
- Data Privacy and Security
G. Non-functional Requirements
- Performance
STI West Negros University
Application Development and Emerging Technologies, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2024 5
CITE 1008
IV. SYSTEMPROTOTYPES ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The MindSync mobile application interface is user experience-
oriented to facilitate seamless and intuitive use of its features for W ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TEAM— RUSTY DIOPOL, PERSIAN
better mental well-being. The application is designed to be very MAGUILLANO , A ZRIEL ED
J T . I AD, ORESA
J P
ABALATE AND
modern and easy to navigate. A calming color palette such as C ANCIO ,A LVAN R EI A.
blues and greens is employed in order to promote a relaxing
environment that fosters clarity in the mind
REFERENCES
[1] World Health Organization, "Mental disorders," 8 June 2022. [Online].
Available: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-
disorders.[Accessed: 30-Nov-2024].
[1] World Health Organization, "COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25%
increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide," WHO, 2
March 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/news/item/02-
03- 2022- covid - 19- pandemic- tr igger s- 25- incr ease- in- pr evalence- o
anxiety-and-depression-worldwide. [Accessed: 30-Nov-2024].
[2] Mental Health America, "The State of Mental Health in America,"
2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mhanational.org/state-of-
mental-health. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024.
[3] U.S. Government Accountability Office, "Veterans’ Growing Demand
for Mental Health Services," GAO-21-545SP, 2021. [Online].
Available: https://www.gao.gov/. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024.
[4] "Lumosity: Brain Training," Lumos Labs, Inc., 2024. [Online].
Available: https://www.lumosity.com/. [Accessed: 17-Nov-2024].
[5] "Sanvello: Stress and Anxiety Management," Sanvello Health, 2024.
[Online]. Available: https://www.sanvello.com/. [Accessed: 17-Nov-
2024] of neurofeedback in enhancing cognitive function," Journal of
Cognitive Therapy, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 211–220, 2015.
[2] "Calm: Meditation and Sleep Stories," Calm, 2024. [Online]. Available:
Figure 1. Example Prototype. https://www.calm.com. [Accessed: 17-Nov-2024].
[3] I. Moreno-García, A. Cano-Crespo, and F. Rivera, "Results of
V. DISCUSSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS Neurofeedback in Treatment of Children with ADHD: A Systematic
Review of Randomized Controlled Trials," Applied Psychophysiology and
MindSync’s user-centric design bridges the gap between Biofeedback,
Available: vol. 47, pp. 145-181, 2022. [Online].
link.springer.com.
traditional mental wellness apps and high-end neurofeedback
systems. Survey results from benefactors indicated high [6] J. C. Da Silva and M. L. De Souza, "Neurofeedback training for
acceptance of the technology due to its real-time feedback and cognitive performance improvement in healthy subjects: A systematic
intuitive interface. The average ratings for effectiveness and review," Psychology & Neuroscience, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 262-279,
efficiency were 4.5/5 and 4.7/5, respectively. 2021. [Online]. Available: psycnet.apa.org.
Table 1. Feedback Results [4] I. Kimura, H. Noyama, R. Onagawa, M. Takemi, R. Osu, and J. Kawahara,
"Efficacy of neurofeedback training for improving attentional performance
Criteria Mean Interpretation in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Imaging
Neuroscience, vol. 2, pp. 1-23, 2024. [Online]. Available: direct.mit.edu.
Usability 4.6 Excellent
Efficiency 4.7 Excellent [7] I. Kimura, H. Noyama, R. Onagawa, M. Takemi, R. Osu, and J.
Kawahara, "Efficacy of neurofeedback training for improving
Effectivity 4.5 Excellent attentional performance in healthy adults: A systematic review and
meta-analysis," Imaging Neuroscience, vol. 2, pp. 1-23, 2024.
[Online]. Available: direct.mit.edu.
[8] R. Thibault and A. Raz, "The fallacy of EEG-based neurofeedback:
How placebo mechanisms may explain its clinical effects," American
VI. CONSCLUSION Psychologist, vol. 72, no. 6, pp. 468-475, 2017.
MindSync offers a groundbreaking approach to mental wellness [9] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Health Insurance
by combining neurotechnology, AI, and wearable devices. Its Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)," HHS.gov,
user-friendly interface and real-time feedback provide a 1996. [Online]. Available: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-
personalized, effective solution for stress management and professionals/privacy/index.html..
cognitive enhancement. Future work will focus on expanding [10] ISO/IEC 27001:2013, "Information technology — Security techniques
device compatibility and refining AI models to ensure inclusivity — Information security management systems — Requirements,"
and accuracy.. International Organization for Standardization, 2013.
[11] Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, "New global burden of
disease analyses show depression and anxiety continue to take a toll
STI West Negros University
Application Development and Emerging Technologies, Volume 1, Issue 1, December 2024 6
CITE 1008
on global health," Health Data, 2024. [Online]. Available: [22]
https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/insights-blog/acting-
data/new-global-burden-disease-analyses-show-depression-and.
[Accessed: Dec. 1, 2024].
[12]
[13] Mental Health America, "The State of Mental Health in America,"
2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mhanational.org/state-of-
mental-health. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024.
[14]
[15] Mental Health America, "The State of Mental Health in America,"
2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mhanational.org/state-of-
mental-health. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024.
[16]
[17] Mental Health America, "The State of Mental Health in America,"
2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mhanational.org/state-of-
mental-health. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024. AUTHORS
[18] First Author– Rusty Diopol.
[19] Mental Health America, "The State of Mental Health in America," Second Author – Persian S Maguillano
2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mhanational.org/state-of-
mental-health. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024. Third Author Azriel Jed Tiad
–
Fourth Author –Cancio, Alvan Rei A.
[20] Fifth Author –Joresa Pabalate
[21] Mental Health America, "The State of Mental Health in America,"
2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.mhanational.org/state-of-
mental-health. Accessed: Nov. 30, 2024.
STI West Negros University