ABSTRACT This study addresses the long‐standing challenge of objectively and continuously quantifying User Experience (UX) in immersive architectural environments. We propose a real‐time computational framework that integrates EEG‐based affective computing with virtual reality (VR) spatial design. A hierarchical edge architecture combined with the Lab Streaming Layer enables millisecond‐level synchronization between neural signals, behavioral trajectories, and semantic spatial events. To ensure robustness under free navigation, an adaptive preprocessing pipeline is implemented that incorporates zero‐phase filtering and artifact subspace reconstruction. At the feature level, Frontal Alpha Asymmetry (FAA) and the Engagement Index (EI) are employed to jointly model emotional valence and attentional investment. Multimodal calibration is achieved via regression against subjective benchmarks, including SAM and NASA‐TLX. A within‐subject experiment comparing stress‐inducing and restorative architectural scenarios demonstrates significant neurophysiological differentiation. FAA strongly correlates with reported valence, while EI shows a moderate association with perceived workload. Importantly, EEG measures capture transient fluctuations that remain invisible to retrospective scales. The findings establish a quantitative foundation for evidence‐based design and pave the way toward closed‐loop adaptive environments driven by real‐time affective feedback.
Liang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.