The effect of Smooth Pursuit eye movement and Visual ACT Techniques on Relaxation

Research topic/area

Human-Computer Interaction

Type of thesis

Bachelor / Master

Start time

31.05.2025

Application deadline

20.05.2025

Duration of the thesis

3-6 months

Description

This thesis topic explores how visual tasks involving smooth pursuit eye movements and Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-inspired cognitive diffusion techniques influence user
relaxation and engagement.
Relaxation and sustained engagement with the task will be assessed via subjective selfreports, eye-tracking data, and optionally EEG (e.g., alpha power). The topic aims to understand how gaze-based visual interaction can support cognitive diffusion processes

Hypothesis:
Smooth pursuit eye movements will lead to greater relaxation compared to static or noninteractive visual conditions.

Tasks:

• Literature review (ACT, cognitive defusion, smooth pursuit, relaxation indicators)
• Design and develop visual stimuli and gaze-interactive tasks (support provided)
• Set up experimental protocol, questionnaires, and data collection
• Conduct user study and collect eye-tracking and relaxation data (and optionally EEG)
• Analyze and compare conditions
• Discuss findings in context of HCI and mental well-being

Requirement

Requirements for students

• Interest in HCI and psychology
• Some experience in data analysis, machine learning and at least one programming
• language, preferably python.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to work with eye-tracking and/or EEG systems
• ✅ support is provided for software and experimental setup.

Faculty departments

• Engineering sciences
  Electrical engineering & information technologies
  Informatics
  Mechatronics & information technologies
  Optics & photonics
• Economic & law sciences
  Information Engineering

Supervision

Title, first name, last name

Sarah Makarem

Organizational unit

TM

Email address

makarem@teco.edu

Link to personal homepage/personal page

Website

Application via email

Application documents

• Curriculum vitae
• Grade transcript

E-Mail Address for application
Senden Sie die oben genannten Bewerbungsunterlagen bitte per Mail an makarem@teco.edu


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