Composition      Mapping      Real-Time Notation      Music Therapy      History of Brainwave Music

My interest in using brainwaves for a musical making tool came about from attending some sessions in 2009 run by the excellent Drake Music organisation, who specialise in providing sessions and education for disabled music makers through innovative technologies. During a session I attended I was aware of a distinct lack of technology or systems available for musicians with severe physical disabilities. All of the digital instruments, sensors and interfaces being used required some form of physical movement, excluding those with the most serious motor disabilities.

patien M playing music

Patient M playing music using the braincap

Fast forward a year and I found myself extremely lucky to be working on a collaborative project with the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disabilites (RHN), London and the University of Essex’s BCI Research Group. Together we designed and developed a system for a patient, suffering from locked-in syndrome, to allow them to play simple melodies along with backing music. Wearing a brain cap Patient M was able to choose different styles of backing music and play melodies of different instruments. The control of the music came via Patient M controlling her gaze onto a computer screen. After our sessions she contacted us (using her speller board and therapist) via email to say:

thankyou… it felt great to be in control again”.

Music

Listen to Patient M performing using the brain cap.

Demo video and more information explaining the system.

 

News Articles

The publication of a paper by all involved from the RHND, ICCMR and Essex University caught the attention of the press, who in all honestly conducted themselves extremely unethically in breaking the story.

The Metro – 6th April 2011

‘Locked in’ woman conducts own orchestra with wonder machine

The Mail Online – 30th March 2011

How a paralysed patient with locked-in syndrome was able to conduct an orchestra using only her MIND

Medical News Today – 22nd March 2011

Thoughts Make Music For Patient With Locked-in Syndrome

Nature – 18th March 2011

Music is all in the mind

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