The Integration of Generative AI and Adaptive Educational Intervention: Psychological Mechanisms of Emotion, Mindfulness, and Creativity

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming both educational and cognitive environments by dynamically interacting with learners’ cognitive states and emotional processes. Recent advancements in AI systems enable personalized content delivery, real-time feedback, and flexible adaption of learning trajectories, directly impacting not only core cognitive processes such as attention, executive function, and memory consolidation, but also emotion regulation, mindfulness, and creativity.

Within the broader landscape of educational psychology, foundational research has long established the interdependence of emotion, motivation, and cognitive control in determining learning outcomes. However, integration of these psychological and cognitive constructs within AI-driven, adaptive educational interventions is still at an early stage. In particular, the mechanisms through which generative AI features, including adaptivity, interactivity, and feedback granularity, influence cognitive load, metacognitive awareness, emotional engagement, and creative problem-solving remain largely unexplored.

Addressing these gaps is crucial not only for advancing scientific understanding of human-AI psychological interactions, but also for developing evidence-based, technology-enhanced strategies to support individualized learning, well-being, and creativity in real-world classrooms. This Research Topic seeks contributions from cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and education that illuminate how generative AI can optimize cognitive efficiency, foster meaningful emotional experiences, and cultivate creative thinking—ultimately bridging scientific theory and educational practice across diverse cultural and learning contexts.

The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our understanding of the cognitive and psychological mechanisms underpinning learner-AI interaction, with a special focus on emotion regulation, mindfulness, and creativity. We aim to provide a scholarly forum that synergizes insights from cognitive science and educational psychology, and to encourage the development of AI-driven interventions which can enhance these core psychological processes. By fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue, the collection aspires to inform both theoretical frameworks and practical strategies, supporting the effective integration of AI technologies in education to promote personalized, adaptive, and emotionally supportive learning for all.

To gather further insights into these multifaceted dynamics, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Cognitive and neural mechanisms mediating the interaction between AI-driven adaptability and learner attention, executive function, and memory processes
- Generative AI as a tool for fostering Innovation, divergent thinking, and cognitive flexibility
-Interaction between AI-driven adaptability and emotional experiences
- AI systems as facilitators of mindfulness practice and mental health
- The role of AI in fostering creativity and innovative thinking
- Evaluating the impact of AI personalization on learning motivation and engagement
- Designing AI interventions to balance stress and learning efficacy
- Comparative studies on traditional versus AI-enhanced educational methodologies

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Generative AI; adaptive educational intervention; emotion regulation; mindfulness; creativity; educational psychology; personalized learning; psychological mechanisms; AI-driven adaptability; learner engagement; cognitive flexibility; emotional experience

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.