2023-08-15 22:00:04
Scientists at the University of California have successfully recreated a recognizable version of Pink Floyd’s iconic song “Another Brick in the Wall” solely based on the brain activity of individuals who listened to the song. Using a computer model, the researchers were able to convert the brain data into music without any information about the original song itself.
The result is a version of “Another Brick in the Wall” that may not make it to the top 40 charts, but is undeniably identifiable as the Pink Floyd classic. The study involved 29 patients who had electrodes implanted in their brains for the purpose of pinpointing the location of their epileptic seizures. This provided the researchers with detailed insights into the brain activity associated with listening to music.
The YouTube clips shared in the study include a reconstruction of the song based on the brain activity of a single patient, as well as a version created using the brain activity data from all 29 patients combined.
Neuroscientist Julia Berezutskaya from Radboud University praised the study, stating, “It’s one of the first studies to do it this way, and it provides insight into how music is processed in our brain.” The researchers claim to have discovered a new brain region specific to processing rhythm, although music scientist Henkjan Honing from the University of Amsterdam raised concerns about the lack of controlled experiments.
Further research in recognizing language and visual experiences in the brain has also shown promise. Berezutskaya hopes that in the future, this technology could help paralyzed individuals communicate through brain activity. Similar studies have demonstrated the ability to recognize photos in the brains of test subjects, potentially allowing blind individuals to regain visual experiences.
Privacy concerns arise with this type of research, as advanced equipment and electrodes are required to gain reliable information about brain activity. However, Berezutskaya believes these concerns are premature, as without such equipment, it is difficult to access information from our heads.
The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in reading minds raises questions about the safety and privacy of our thoughts in the future. Brain scientist Iris Groen discusses these concerns in the podcast “Knowledge & Co.”
Overall, this research offers insights into how music is processed in the brain and holds potential for further advancements in understanding and utilizing brain activity for communication and experiencing the world.]
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