Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur are conducting a study on alpha waves in the brain, which are typically present when a person is awake and relaxed. This research aims to explore how stress affects cognitive functions such as attention, working memory, and decision-making. Tushar Sandhan, an associate professor of electrical engineering, emphasizes the importance of understanding individual variations in stress responses and their cognitive implications. The study utilizes non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) technology to measure alpha wave activity, particularly in the frontal lobe, which is vital for judgment and self-perception. Additionally, the researchers are examining 'frontal alpha symmetry' as a biomarker for psychiatric conditions like depression. The findings could enhance affective computing, a field that combines artificial intelligence with psychology to develop systems that recognize human emotions. Despite extensive research on alpha waves, experts like Vaibhav Tripathi from IIT Gandhinagar argue that more longitudinal studies are necessary to clarify the nature of alpha waves as biomarkers. They also highlight the need for objective measures of stress to account for individual differences in brain activity over time.