brain in pain: body mapping, pain visualisation and mapping the invisible
DESCRIPTION
This was a presentation for a research workshop at Electronic Visualisation and the Arts Conference, London on 8 July 2014. My short paper can be read here: http://ewic.bcs.org/content/ConWebDoc/52988 I talked about the faulty signalling system of a brain in pain, looked at brain mapping, and at how we may start to create models or environments within which patients can learn about and re-shape their sensations. The areas I explored were 'brain and pain maps' and the scope they provide for learning, how we can explore and promote the idea of 'sensory orchestration', neuroplasticity, and the 'virtual body' to patients through the use of technology and at ideas of induced synesthesia and brain plasticity. I also looked at how artists are using technology to create new models of embodiment and at how pain researchers and clinicians are using it to train patients to reduce the distress of persistent pain and conditions such as phantom limb pain. I outlined three main areas of potential production: to learn (about the brain in pain, as systematic, rather than symptomatic), to re-map the brain/body relationship, and to play via new engagements with the environment. I'm really interested in the idea of being active in the process of receiving pain inputs and my intention is to use my personal experience of re-processing pain signals (I have a chronic pain condition) and my background as an artist to inform the design of new resources, come at it from a place of play. And although virtual reality environments offer huge potential for shifting a patients brain/body map, I'm aware that patients can be housebound by their symptoms, so I also see a place for more portable and discreet forms of technology which may assist them whilst they're out in what can be a very frightening environment. This is a multidisciplinary project, I have had input from and will continue to need other artists, technologists, neuroscientists, art therapists and psychologists as I build this work. A fundamental part of this project is to devise technology which enables a patient to input their experience, work from where they are, then subtly shift, change that, help them learn, play and explore, whilst re-mapping, re-sensing their bodies and the environment, to approach the outside world anew, with curiosity, rather than see it as a place full of danger and pain triggers. What I'm interested in exploring are new body maps, forms of embodiment, interruption, interference, noise. It's about removing stasis. In my experience, the more that flux becomes a state of being, becomes habit, the less chance those pain signals get to remain stuck. To begin with it's a case of working with pain amplification, with practise, you sometimes get to change the tune.TRANSCRIPT
'Top Shot Helmet' Julian Von Bismarck
'The Decelerator' by Lorenz Potthast Inverted vision experiment
Neil Harbisson
Hvass &Hannibal
'Illinois' by Jax de Leon
Hvass &
Hvass &Hannibal
Penfield Map
'After Image' Alexa Wright Visual feedback system attached to phantom limbs
Volumetric analysis of the spatial pattern of learned control over activation.
deCharms R C et al. PNAS 2005;102:18626-18631
©2005 by National Academy of Sciences
George Khut with his 'Bright Hearts' biofeedback app
Diane Gromala's 'Meditation Chamber'