Listen to the brain

The Brain Polyphony Concert

In the context of the Brain Awareness Week (BAW) 2016, the Centre for Genomic Regulation in collaboration with the Barcelona Research Art & Creation (BRAC) of the University of Barcelona and Starlab have created a concert with the aim of exploring the possibilities of the Brain Poliphony system. The concert will take place at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcleona (CCCB).

The Brain Polyphony Project

Brain Polyphony is a research project led by Mara Dierssen (CRG) in collaboration with the Barcelona Research Art & Creation (BRAC) of the University of Barcelona and Starlab, which proposes the design of a alternative communication system based on sonifcation of electroencephalography (EEG) features. The project has two aims: the first is to design a tool to ease the care of people with cerebral palsy; the second is the use of this system as a tool to create music.

The Brain Polyphony Concert

The Brain Polyphony concert is the result of the research project, in which the brain activity is the driving force for creative music. The brain waves of the Brain Polyphony Orchestra (2 to 4 subjects with cerebral palsy) are transformed into musical instruments through the Brain Polyphony System, a kit of software and hardware created in this project for the sonification of EEG activity in real time.

The 40 min concert of the band From Lost To The River will have several interludes. Besides the music, Science, Arts and Technology lecturers will present several “science capsules” to the audience:

1. A brief introduction to Neuroscience, and to the project and the main issues of people with cerebral palsy and neurodegenerative disorders
2. Biological explanation on the origin of electrophysiological brain activity and how can we identify emotional features
3. Short talk about technological devices used for the project and for building the Expanded Communication Tool based on EEG measurements
4. Sonification using the above tools to generate a language of sounds and music which enables subjects with cerebral palsy to express and create.

Directors:

Mara Dierssen, Centre for Genomic Regulation

Efrain Foglia, Motility Lab, University of Barcelona

Researchers:

Jordi Sala, Centre for Genomic Regulation

Marcos Quevedo, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques

Special collaboration:

Iván Cester, musician at Summer76music

Collaborators:

Stephen Dune, Managing Director, Starlab – Living Science

David Ibañez, Researcher, Neuroscience Research, Starlab – Living Science

Aureli Soria-Frisch, (Dr.-Ing.) R&D Neuroscience Manager, Neuroscience Research - Starlab Consulting Division

Marta Castellano, Engineer, Neuroscience Research, Starlab – Living Science

When: 18th March 2016 at 7 pm

Where: Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), Montalegre, 5 - 08001 Barcelona

Register here

Link to the event

Organised by:

Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)

Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)

Starlab

Barcelona Research Art & Creation (BRAC)