NEURAL AUDIO IMAGINGNeural Audio Imaging is an outgrowth of the neurological research being done at Paras West Productions. Previously, this research has been presented in exhibit form at SIGGRAPH Conferences. This type of pattern design, based on neurological data collected via a brainwave interface to the computer, was researched by Paras Kaul, Assistant Professor in the Graduate Program of Electronic Visualization at Mississippi State University. In the future, through the use of neural network systems, design will be the result of an experiential process of learning from exposure to design patterns modeled after our intuitive function. NEURAL AUDIO IMAGING, the CD, was produced in the Special Topics course at MSU, Visual Music with a Java Connect. In this course, developed by Kaul, the term Neural Audio Imaging (NAI) was coined to describe the unique type of audio and visual track that is created when neural signaling is used to create a multimedia experience. Emphasis of the current research at MSU has been on audio in order to explore more completely the use of neural data for enhancing midi output from the computer. The neural midi output on the CD has been post produced in real time into music that relates to visual imagery. The Visual Music course was designed as a prototype for new curriculum design which involves a learning process whereby individuals are introduced to the extended processing capability of our human neural network. With this learning comes the realization that we have the ability to program our mental states in order to achieve optimal states for specific activities we are engaged in. Dr. John Lilly described this concept as "Metaprogramming in the Human BioComputer. When beginning the neural imaging process in real time, the brainwave activity is random and changes rapidly. A viewer is likely to be involved in a settling process, whereby neural activity is transitioning to a calm, focused state of mind. During this time, images and sound may appear chaotic, so related audio tracks reflect this unsettled brain wave activity. As a viewer begins to relax and focus his or her attention, the audio and visuals will begin to flow more naturally, and the effect of the multimedia experience will become calming. A goal of the neural imaging experience is to increase awareness of the fact that we have the ability to relax and exist in stress free states of mind, and that calm states of mind evoke more productivity. NAI audio tracks reflect an increasing degree of relaxation, as the viewer is guided from an unsettled state of mind to a relaxed alpha state or a dream like state of delta activity.
The states of mind reflected on the NEURAL AUDIO IMAGING CD are based on standard EEG monitoring which delineates neurological signaling into bandwidths of frequency values. These bandwidths are beta, alpha, theta and delta. An additional frequency bandwidth has been added which is a settling state that occurs before the clear monitoring of brain wave activity begins. Also, the largest bandwidth, which is beta, is divided into high beta and low beta bandwidths.
For the CD, each artist created six neural audio imaging tracks to represent the mental states previoulsy described. A real time presentation of this work would require the viewer to be wired to the computer using IBVA (Interactive Brainwave Visual Analyzer System). This brain wave interface utilizes a headband with 3 electrode sensors. Using this interface, the viewer would also be able to use his or her neurological signaling to determine which movie is played, so their brain literally would control the order in which movies are played. The sequencing of movies occurs relative to the bandwidth of frequencies the viewer is experiencing. Since each person participating in the real time multimedia experience would have different patterns of brainwave activity, each viewer would see a different movie. The Neural Audio Imaging CD was previewed at the Walker Art Museum in 1998. |