Brainwave Bloom

An innovative interactive installation that blends the worlds of neuroscience, taste, and digital art, hosted by the Museum of Food and Drink in New York

Each participant is equipped with an EEG headset, a cutting-edge device designed to read brainwave activity.

EEG headset displayed in a white plinth, Brainwave Bloom

Two visitors putting on EEG headsets at the Museum of Food and Drink, Brainwave Bloom

Visitors wearing EEG headsets tasting a flavour at Brainwave Bloom

The journey begins with the simple act of tasting a sweet, each infused with a unique flavor designed to evoke distinct sensory responses.

As participants savor the flavor, their brainwaves are monitored for 20 seconds, to capture the electrical activity of their brain, triggered by the taste experience.

The core of Brainwave Bloom lies in its ability to transform these invisible electrical impulses into a mesmerizing 3D animation.The Alpha, Beta and Gamma brainwaves are visualized as three distinct 3D tubes. The length of each tube and the intensity of their color are calibrated to reflect the participant's brainwave activity, creating a personalized neural landscape. The Theta brainwave is reflected in the intensity of the blue background color.

Brainwave Bloom screen at the start of a visualisation, with small spheres

Brainwave Bloom screen as brainwave tubes begin to grow

Finished Brainwave Bloom visualisation: coloured 3D tubes representing a visitor's brainwaves

Every Brainwave Bloom visualisation is unique

Strip of unique Brainwave Bloom visualisations from different visitors

At the end of the visualisation, participants are shown a QR code that links to their personal Brainwave Bloom image, video and a decoder which allows participants to understand the specific meaning of their individual bloom.

Visitor scanning a QR code to take home her Brainwave Bloom visualisation

Technology: Touch Designer

Credits:

Graphics: Darien Brito
Backend: Isaac Clarke
Video editing: Samuele Albani