Researchers on the College of South Florida (USF) have launched information of a instrument that may doubtlessly assist hone human focus by means of the creation of artwork with solely the ability of the thoughts.
“We’re asking people to use their brains in a way they never have used it before,” mentioned Marvin Andujar, assistant professor within the Division of Pc Science and Engineering at USF and analysis lab director for the Neuro-Machine Interplay Lab, in a video concerning the venture. “Brain painting requires a lot of concentration.”
The method entails a non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) cap that data information from the parietal lobe of the mind, enabling the machine to detect when the consumer is specializing in the stimulus on the display screen. On this case, the stimuli are objects on the display screen similar to squares, circles, or stars, which the consumer can have interaction with to create the portray.
“The brain painting software along with the EEG cap is trying to capture a wave from the brain that we all have called the P300 wave,” Andujar advised Hyperallergic in an interview. “This wave is elicited when humans respond to a stimulus. A good example of this wave response is when we are watching a movie and we see a scene that we are interested in — maybe a fight scene, or story reveal.”
Whereas the venture is clearly catnip for anybody interested by future-tech and the power to management objects with the thoughts, it has notably impactful potential functions for folks with Consideration-deficit/Hyperactivity Dysfunction (ADHD).
“Tools like this could help us all, not just those with ADHD, become more disciplined with our concentration,” Andujar mentioned.
Andujar’s earlier tasks, together with mind-controlled drones, have elicited optimistic suggestions from folks with ADHD, who’ve examined them at conventions and located them useful in training focus.
“Adults with ADHD, or even teenagers, who have tried the technology always come to me and ask where they can buy the technology to practice training their attention over time, instead of just taking drugs,” mentioned Andujar. “So that’s why we started working on how we can make brain-painting a tool, where those with ADHD can train their attention over time while doing something creative.”
To this point, the ensuing work are pretty restricted of their graphic dynamism, and would possibly set off debate over what constitutes artwork and what are merely objects transferring round in digital house — however like many different types of artwork which might be comparatively uninspiring, Andujar’s group intends to finally enable mind painters to monetize their work within the digital artwork world by growing them as NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
“There’s nothing out there that exists that is a brain-based painting that’s an NFT,” Andujar says. The creative deserves of brain-painting could also be up within the air, however the novel instrument appears to have the potential for focus — a capability in ever-shortening provide within the period of the shrinking consideration span.
