On Mapping EEG Information into Music

Abstract

AbstractWith the rise of ever-more affordable EEG equipment available to musicians, artists and researchers, designing and building a brain–computer music interface (BCMI) system has recently become a realistic achievement. This chapter discusses previous research in the fields of mapping, sonification and musification in the context of designing a BCMI system and will be of particular interest to those who seek to develop their own. Design of a BCMI requires unique considerations due to the characteristics of the EEG as a human interface device (HID). This chapter analyses traditional strategies for mapping control from brainwaves alongside previous research in biofeedback musical systems. Advances in music technology have helped provide more complex approaches with regard to how music can be affected and controlled by brainwaves. This, paralleled with developments in our understanding of brainwave activity has helped push brain–computer music interfacing into innovative realms of real-time musical performance, composition and applications for music therapy.KeywordsMotor ImageryAlpha ActivityAlpha RhythmAlpha WavePassive ListeningThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.