Neuro-Cooking

BY Anna Rosinke & mbraintrain

VIDEO

Concept & Prototype description

The project redefines “food as medicine” through three key pillars: Planetary, Mental, and Physical Health, emphasizing the multi-sensory and therapeutic aspects of cooking. Cooking engages all senses, and the lack of tactile stimulation has been linked to mental health issues like touch hunger. The project aims to create a wearable prototype equipped with EEG, motion, pulse, and muscle contraction sensors to analyze users’ emotional states in real-time. By responding with tailored cooking instructions, the wearable supports mental well-being, cognitive development, and fine motor skills, making it a potential tool for personalized therapy. The research phase explored case studies on food preparation, sensory experiences, and technology, forming a foundation for hardware development and basic cooking techniques. Given the deep cultural and personal significance of food, the project seeks to personalize cooking education similarly to how nutrition is individualized.

Connection to the scenario
Future scenario: The Cooking Ape Institute

The Remis project builds on the Cooking Ape Institute scenario, highlighting the mentally beneficial aspects of food preparation as part of a holistic approach to food as medicine. It recognizes cooking as a meditative and therapeutic practice, integrating anthropological, physiological, and psychological perspectives. Inspired by Wrangham’s research, the project acknowledges the role of cooking in fine motor skill development, skin and gut microbiome health, and multi-sensorial experiences that enhance mental well-being.

The project envisions a wearable device that tracks EEG, motion, pulse, and muscle contractions, offering real-time analysis of emotional states. This data informs adaptive cooking instructions aimed at relaxation, cognitive improvement, and therapeutic support. The broader goal is to explore new ways of teaching cooking, emphasizing its mental health benefits while remaining connected to planetary and physical health. Currently, mental health is the core focus, but future iterations—potentially supported by AI models—will integrate planetary and physical health aspects more deeply. The Future Compass framework underpins this multi-dimensional approach, guiding the project’s evolution beyond MUSAE 2.

Technology

For the Remis project, the project uses dry EEG electrodes to detect brainwaves, and the adapted app mentioned above to detect emotions and mood. We will utilize the SMARTING PRO X EEG amplifier, which can capture data across multiple c: EEG, Channels (modalities): ECG (pulse), motion sensors, audio envelope via microphone input, and EMG (muscle contractions).