NeuroAesthetic Resonance

Abstract

The brain is the foundation of human experience. Our sensory and emotional perceptions of the world around us are all based in neural activity. But does physical brain activity correspond with subjective aesthetic experience? Is it possible to optimise for both?

My project seeks to answer this question by framing brain response and aesthetic experience as forms of resonance. The brain functions through oscillation (commonly known as ‘brainwaves’) and as such produces measurable resonance phenomena. Aesthetic resonance is a far more metaphorical concept, but has been explored in design literature as a model of enjoyable and meaningful aesthetic experiences, in which a person feels connected to the aesthetic properties of their environment. In my work, I explore how design might produce experiences that are optimised for both forms of resonance. In doing so, I aim to contribute knowledge that furthers scientifically informed interaction design and enables the design of effective, enjoyable and personalised brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and neurotherapeutics. My findings are expressed through an audiovisual installation that uses a feedback loop between participant and designer to co-compose a data-driven resonant experience. The installation gathers synchronised, labelled EEG and multi-sensory stimulation data, enabling future research in the joint optimisation of neural response and aesthetic experience.