SU 26 Winner: Iraina Bundhoo

Brief Theme Overview

The 2026 NeuroArt Summer Cohort explored “Waves of Thought”, a theme centered around cognitive neuroscience, pattern recognition, memory and the ever-changing activity of the mind. From scientific research to creative expression, participants were challenged to consider how our thoughts, emotions, and neurological processes can be understood—and represented—through their work.

The Inspiration Behind the Research

In Mauritius, conversations surrounding mental health can still be overlooked. For Iraina, this created a question: could a simple, accessible practice such as meditation actually make a measurable difference in people's well-being?

This question became the foundation of their project. Rather than relying on assumptions about meditation and stress, Iraina sought to collect data and investigate whether ten minutes of heartfulness meditation each day could reduce stress and improve well-being.

The project also reflects a broader message about mental health: that caring for our minds deserves the same attention and consideration as caring for our physical health.

Connecting to “Waves of Thought”

The theme Waves of Thought reflects the mind as a constantly changing stream of thoughts and experiences. Some moments can feel calm, while others can become overwhelming.

Meditation became a way of exploring how we might respond to those changing mental states. The project also connects the theme to neuroscience by considering the brain's different activity patterns, including alpha, theta, and gamma frequency bands, which are associated with different states of brain activity. Through this connection, Iraina transformed “waves” from simply a metaphor for thoughts into a concept grounded in neuroscience.

A Message Beyond the Data

At its core, this project is about more than meditation. It asks us to take mental health seriously and consider whether small, intentional habits can contribute to better well-being. Iraina hopes their research can encourage others to reconsider how they view mental health—and perhaps even become more open to giving meditation a chance!

Explore the Research

Read Iraina Bundhoo's full research submission:[View Research PDF →https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OuaXljL_QRD4DHCnw62SCO0WO2qg-AIS/view?usp=sharing]