Event 2: Octopus Brainstorming: Mind to Mind Communication

The interactive event was a true integration between the science and art world, reflected through the collaboration with Neuroscience professor Mark Cohen and Professor Vesna, director of UCLA’s Art | Sci Center.

The experience opened my eyes to how technologies I thought specific to medicine and healthcare could be used as a performance piece. This idea that scientific tools can be applied in an artistic manner is similarly reflected in Dr. Vesna’s lectures and Silvia Casini’s ideas in “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait: MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts”. The medical technology used in this exhibit, EEG signals, play a crucial role in clinical practices with identifying brain disorders by recording abnormal brainwave patterns.

With my passion and discipline in bioengineering, I actually have had direct experience working with brain technology in a research and academic setting. In high-school, I took on a research assistant role at the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford University. The project used brain imaging to explore brain function during competitive and collaborative computer gaming to better understand social interaction. Two individuals, unable to see each other, were placed in front of a computer on either sides and played computer games as their head set, lined with electrodes, recorded signals.

Social interaction computer gaming experiment
(Stanford CIBSR <https://nirs.stanford.edu/research>)

Additionally in college, the final project for my Neuroengineering class involved creating a MATLAB code to decipher and analyze EEG signals (termed processing). Specifically, we developed code to filter the signal, detect and align the spikes, extract features, and cluster and classify spikes. Currently in use, this type of technology allows computers to efficiently identify abnormalities in large data sets of patient brainwaves.

Detection of spikes result from MATLAB code
(MATLAB)

Cluster of spikes result from MATLAB code
(MATLAB)

These experiences developed my understanding of EEG signals as a research and medical tool to give information on brain function and disorders. However, this exhibit challenged my preconceived notions. The EEG signals, in this exhibit, were used to display the connection between two individuals—often strangers from the audience. Though not recording directly, the exhibit showed an example brainwave pattern. The brainwave pattern shown was familiar to me from my above experience. 

EEG signals/brainwave data set used in exhibit 

However, I was amazed by what came next. The brainwave pattern translated to corresponding colors that were displayed on the octopus headpiece. It was interesting to see the the application of these EEG signals to create such stunning, meaningful performance piece.

Octopus headpiece light during exhibit

In addition to seeing how medical technologies can be used as an art form, the exhibit also helped me see the need to expand society’s understanding of the brain with fields other than science. After the exhibit, I see the limitations of the computer gaming experiment I mentioned above. There is a deep complexity in trying to understand social interaction and the concept of “togetherness”. As Dr. Cohen points out, “the process of brainwave congruency happens on a subconscious level”. It is very powerful how the exhibit appreciates this subconscious ability and makes it a focal point of the exhibit with the colors and music. With this complexity of the subconscious of our brains, I can't help but wonder if brain imaging and trying to create mathematical algorithms to interpret these brainwave signals are only the first steps in truly understanding the brain during interaction. I definitely recommend this event as it challenges the belief that only science can be a representation of understanding the brain. Art, in this exhibit, was used to show this subconscious level of "togetherness" among individuals.

Additionally, the exhibit illustrated how “together" we really are on a fundamental level by showing the connection between individuals, illustrated with similar colors. And even if science is still far from discovering the deep complexities of the brain, exhibits such as this one challenge our superficial concept of differences among each other and show a deeper analysis of the concept of "togetherness" or connection. 

Proof of attendance picture with octopus headpieces

References:

Cohen, Mark, and Victoria Vesna. "Octopus Brainstorming: Mind to Mind Communication." Art|Sci Exhibit, 05 May 2017.