Recent photos of students at Tsinghua University wearing mysterious headgear sparked a buzz online. Social media was abuzz with jokes about a “secret high-tech cult” or “quirky performance art,” but the reality is even more fascinating.
The university revealed that these “magic caps” are actually part of a portable brain-computer interface (BCI) system. They were used to capture neural activity as students experienced live theatre performances. The experiment aimed to decode aesthetic responses and explore patterns of brain activity during art appreciation.
“This marks China’s first application of non-invasive BCI technology in neuroscience research at a live performance venue,” said Professor Gao Xiaorong, director of Tsinghua’s Neural Engineering Lab.
The findings showed heightened activity in regions of the brain associated with emotion and sensory processing during the performances. “Live performances trigger stronger brain resonance linked to emotional immersion,” explained Li Zexuan, a doctoral researcher on the team. “This neuroscientific evidence reveals why live performances move us more deeply.”
BCI technology, which captures and decodes brain signals to enable interaction between the mind and machines, is advancing rapidly in China. Current applications include medical diagnostics, safety monitoring in high-risk jobs, motor rehabilitation, and treatments for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
A key breakthrough of this study was achieving laboratory-grade electroencephalography (EEG) data collection in a live performance setting. The EEG caps worn by the students contain silvery electrodes that capture brainwave signals. Mini data recorders worn on their arms collect emotion-related information. This data is wirelessly transmitted to a data center for analysis of physiological responses during the artistic experience.
The research seeks to answer how performances and body language reshape our emotions and neural states. Collaborations with universities and arts groups are underway to study art’s impact on mood. “We aim to identify neural patterns in people suffering from emotional distress, such as anxiety patients, providing scientific references for emotional therapy,” Professor Gao said.
