A method is implemented by a computing device for helping a particular user use a user interface (UI). Electroencephalography (EEG) data is obtained that indicates brain activity of a particular user during a period in which that user views the UI and/or interprets help information that describes how to use the UI. Based on the EEG data, the computing device selects, from among multiple predefined cognitive states, the one or more cognitive states that characterize the particular user during the period. The computing device assists the particular user to use the UI by customizing the help information for the particular user based on the one or more selected cognitive states. A complementary computing device and computer program product are also disclosed.