Have you ever wondered what is really happening in our brains? What impulses determine our ability to concentrate or relax? Aistė Noreikaitė, a student at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Professional Pedagogy study program, is not only interested in various brain functions, but also uses them as a musical instrument – she turns brain waves into sound.
The human brain never stops working – it constantly receives electromagnetic impulses generated and transmitted by neurons, which send the brain a variety of information about the human body. The biofeedback application used by the KTU student allows to hear this changing brain activity in the form of sound.
Using an electroencephalogram (EEG), the activity of human brain waves is measured in real time: their frequency in hertz and amplitude are recorded. By converting brain waves into sound, people can learn to recognize and control waves of different frequencies, such as Alpha waves, which occur naturally in the brain during meditation or relaxation.
Makes brainwave music
For the first time, the student of KTU’s professional pedagogy study program attempted to convert brainwaves into sounds while still in her final year at the prestigious University of the Arts London, the world’s second-ranked art and design university. “The Experience Helmet” started as a final project at the university, which later developed into an act that has already toured many countries.
For her final thesis, Aistė Noreikaitė created an installation, which was demonstrated in an exhibition in London. She used an EEG meter, which is used in medicine to perform various tests, in a different way than usual – she transformed it into a special helmet that detects the sounds made by brain waves.
In order to ensure that as many people as possible could become part of the act, A. Noreikaitė even used four helmets during the exhibition. The artist later turned this installation into an actual performance, where the audience could hear brainwave music, composed by A. Noreikaitė during the concert.
Varying her focus, concentration, memories and emotions, the girl created a different set of sounds reflecting her state of mind during the performance. A. Noreikaitė usually experienced a sense of relaxation and harmony, which she tried to convey to the audience of the act. According to the KTU student, most of the listeners responded to the brainwave music as extremely relaxing and calming, allowing them to listen to themselves.
“I often meditated when I was on stage – maybe that’s why I was able to convey that calmness,” says A. Noreikaitė.
Will be adapted for teaching pupils
In 2021, A. Noreikaitė was awarded a scholarship from the Lithuanian Council for Culture, which allowed her to further develop her idea and collaborate with various theatres and galleries in the country. She continues to share her work with others and hopes to apply it in the field of pedagogy.
“I can apply this activity to school projects on sound art and interactive music. I was very impressed by what I learned in the UK, and I would like to apply this learnt knowledge in my workplace – to introduce children to the wonderful world of sound”, said the pedagogy student.
The student chose to study pedagogy at KTU not only because of the excellent recommendations by her friends, but also because of the inspiring environment:
“I really like the interior, aesthetics and design of KTU. Back in 2016, I met several mentors from KTU at various events and had the opportunity to visit the university itself. The inside reminded me of the University of the Arts in London, where I graduated with a degree in sound art and design. I personally associate KTU with progress, technology and modernism.”
Noreikaitė’s future lies in her professional career. “In the future, I want to finish my studies and establish myself as a teacher. Of course, I also dream of having more projects with theatre, fragrance houses or the fashion industry. The possibilities are endless”, states the student, who can convey brain waves using music.
She hopes that brainwave “music” will become more popular in Lithuania and that people will see it as an opportunity to get to know their body and mind better, and perhaps even to learn how to control such waves properly.
