Each visitor to the installation will have a completely unique visual and auditory experience driven by their own brain waves through a brain-computer interface. McElver, Wu and Sharkey aim to help visitors reach a meditative state by adapting different parameters in real time, from the sound intensity to complexity of landscape transformation and quantity of virtual butterflies.
This intersection between neuroscience and aesthetic engagement drives Wu’s work. In a recent co-authored paper, she and her colleagues explored the therapeutic similarities between virtual reality experiences and psychedelics: “This approach opens up exciting possibilities for developing effective VR therapies that can enhance cognitive flexibility and reduce depressive symptoms in a manner comparable to that of psychedelic treatments, but without the associated risks and side effects.”
Wu has been eager to collaborate with McElver since she first visited his Wave Field Synthesis lab. “Much of my prior experience in studying aesthetic experience has involved visual art, but Bobby’s work opens a whole new horizon of possibilities in the auditory domain,” she shared.
“While our primary goal is to create an art experience, I am very curious to study how EEG-guided spatialized sound — either alone or paired with visual scenes — can elicit an altered state of consciousness,” Wu added.
The use of brain-computer interface technology in art installations is still emerging, and the Bobby Anspach Studio Foundation grant will enable the trio to further explore what is possible. “This is a make-or-break award for us,” said McElver. “Rather than simply dreaming of the technology needed to realize our vision, this support gives us the opportunity to create truly personalized experiences that aspire to transcendence, inspire new research, and leave a lasting impact on audiences.”
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