Cuddling a Mechanical ‘Breathing Cushion’ Could Help Ease Anxiety – CNET [CNET]

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A group of 129 volunteers participated in an experiment involving a math test. “Using pre- and post-test questionnaires, the researchers found that students who used the device were less anxious pre-test than those who did not,” PLOS said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Robots and machines haven’t typically been regarded as cuddly, friendly objects, but designers have been developing softer and more approachable devices in recent years, including robots shaped like seals and ducks. 

The researchers intend to refine the mechanical pillow, expand testing and gather more detailed data on users’ responses to it. 

“We were excited to find that holding the breathing cushion, without any guidance, produced a similar effect on anxiety in students as a meditation practice,” the study’s authors said. “This ability of the device to be used intuitively opens it up to providing wider audiences with accessible anxiety relief.”