Stress Effect on Attention Level Detection Using Neurosky Mindwave Headset

Abstract

Stress has become the number one factor that results in decreased students' attention level. Thus, in this study we investigated the attention level under induced stress conditions and correlated alpha and beta waves with attention level using the Neurosky Mindwave Headset. This study involved 25 participants of college students age 19 to 23 years old. The used tools were the Stroop colour-word task and Myndplay pro software to measure the stress condition, extract the power of the wave between non-stress and stress conditions, induce the stress during the experiment and produce a power output. After the Incongruent Stroop test was applied, the observed results showed a reduction in attention in male and female groups by 18.47% to 18.60%, respectively. The result showed that non-stress attention and stress attention level means are highly correlation. The correlation between EEG power spectrum and attention level critical value was 0.279, and the alpha and beta bands were weakly correlated with the attention level. However, there was a positive relationship between the EEG spectrum (low alpha, high alpha, low beta and high beta) with the attention level of the female brainwave, and high beta of female brainwave is statistically significant with the attention level. Further studies with a larger sample size may reveal a stronger correlation between the brain waves and attention level during stress.