SCHIZOPHRENIA AS SOUND: listening to the dynamic brain

fMRI data converted to musical sound. Brain images are preprocessed into 20 distributed ensembles, "Independent Components," and each is assigned a tone on a pentatonic scale. The loudness of each note corresponds to the intensity of activity in the corresponding regions of the brain. In this video, you can listen to soundtracks of healthy subjects alternating with schizophrenia patients. At the end, there are a few comments about statistical differences that may explain some of the audible variation.
NOTE: Since this video was first posted, the brainmusic project has attracted the interest of the independent documentary film maker Elisa da Prato. To check the status of the feature-length film (and to support the project), see http://musicofthehemispheres.com/
The "mind as music" hypothesis finds empirical support in this open source paper:
http://www.frontiersin.org/theoretical_and_philosophical_psychology/10.3389/f...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• brainmusic
• brain
• music
• fMRI
• schizophrenia
• data
• sonification
• consciousness
• neuroscience
• philosophy
• new scientist
• dan
• lloyd

[dlloyd1984]

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness that afflicts 1% of humanity. Those who suffer from schizophrenia and those who know and love them are aware of its complexity and the extreme difficulty of coping with the illness. This video has been posted for educational purposes. Informally and non-scientifically, it confirms the idea that schizophrenia is a global dysfunction of the brain.

[dlloyd1984]

Informally and non-scientifically, it confirms the idea that schizophrenia is a global dysfunction of the brain. That is, it affects many regions of the brain and for that reason one can hear subtle differences between sonifications of healthy subjects and patients. It is possible, though a stretch, that sonification could become a diagnostic tool, perhaps a way of bringing forward interactions among brain areas that might not be obvious through other measures.

[dlloyd1984]

But I think it is also important to hear that the differences between the brains of healthy people and individuals with schizophrenia are subtle. Like all the brainmusic tracks, these sound out the richness common to all of us, a symphony which is normally neither seen nor heard. People with schizophrenia and healthy individuals differ very little with respect to the continual underlying music of mind.

[ugiswrong]

I think the schizophrenic sound clips sound better personally.

[frankenboston]

@jarblewarble which proves to me doctors have lied to us all along, big time, lied, studying quantum physics and science, and spirituality is showing me a whole different story than ever before, i cant put my finger on it yet, but i'm grabbing onto it with both hands.

[hotsunshine5]

wow. this is the coolest research ever....... trippy. loved it! i totally understood:)

[IronicallyVague]

@PoisonxAlchemist - I just wanted them to acknowledge the fact that Schizophrenics are forced to take medications that are so hazardous to human health they cause kidney failure, heart trouble, Tardive dyskinesia, permanent sexual disfunction ( I.E.Chemical castration), diabetes, brain damage, brain shrinkage, liver damage, massive weight gain as well as a host of other physical ailments

But at least they have a sound coming from their brain you pucking drooling moron

[PoisonxAlchemist]

@IronicallyVague You expected them to post their entire thesis? This coming from someone who can't spell paper mache.

[IronicallyVague]

That's about as scientific as a 6th grade paper-machy volcano if your not going to include data on the effects of the medications Schizophrenics have to take.

[Tyme2Die]

@Glaborifec

It's FMRI data converted through a computer into sound, not the actual sounds of a brain. It would have no more effect on you than listening to a song.

[Tyme2Die]

Its funny how when someone gets diagnosed with cancer all their loved ones gather around them and show their support. But if you get diagnosed with schizophrenia people avoid contact with you and want you to be put away to die in an asylum somewhere.

[sexysinkhearts]

does this mean that they see and hear things differently too?*