NeuroArt: Presenting a Tool for Self-Regulation
Emma Niecikowski · Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research · 2024
Research Snapshots 127ability to manage their emotional state and consequently brain activity.Through the creation of the Calm and Focus apps, Dr. Petronio Bendito and Dr. Tim Korb present two neurofeedback visual tools for users to gauge their brain activity and practice to optimize their results to achieve calm and focus.Users wear an electroencephalogram (EEG) and its electrodes capture alpha, beta, gamma, and delta brain waves and send them to the app to display the signals visually as an art form.The Focus app shows a dot that moves to the center of the screen as brain activity symmetry is achieved, and the Calm app displays color gradients that shift from warm to cool tones as brain activity lowers.Recently, the interactive NeuroArt project was presented at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) and users learned methods that promote self-regulation, including stretching and restful awareness.Promoting positive self-regulation methods is integral to health, and using these apps is advantageous as it allows monitoring of brain function in real time.NeuroArt is a growing discipline that allows neurological disciplines to become more accessible and enjoyable and paves the way for future health care endeavors.It is difficult for a layperson to understand medical jargon and interpret brainwave data, but the Calm and Focus apps display brain signals aesthetically, in a visual and metaphorical way, so they become comprehensible across all languages and speaking levels.