Project Description:

What is a brain organoid? A brain organoid is a three-dimensional organ model produced in the lab from pluripotent stem cells. These self-organized structures contain a multitude of organ-specific cells, mimicking aspects of early brain development and functionality, making them valuable for studying neurodevelopmental processes and diseases​.

This project establishes a real-time interface that connects spontaneous brain organoid activity with external devices, allowing for interactive representations of the emergent firing patterns resulting from self-organized neural connectivity. Neuronal firing data, converted to hyperedges within hypergraphs, are transformed into computational architectural morphologies, generative spatialized sound, mechanical movements, and AI virtual entities.

Organoid Protonoesis showcases the potential of integrating real-time generative AI with biological systems, inviting participants to explore and reflect on the evolving boundaries of cognition, signal processing, and contemporary media. The current state of the project is working towards establishing a real-time communication between the brain organoids in the Kosik Neurobiology Lab and the installation interface allowing for the development of a closed-loop interface between the brain organoids, human activity, and an AI diffusion model.

Collaborators

• transLAB, UCSB:

  • Marcos Novak (Director)

  • Nefeli Manoudaki

  • Iason Paterakis

  • Diarmid Flatley

  • Ryan Millett

  • Jazer Sibley Schwartz

• Kosik Neurobiology Lab:

  • Ken Kosik (Director)

  • Tjitse van der Molen

  • Eve Bodina

• SBCAST (Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science and Technology):

  • Alan Macy (Director)

Exhibition History:

Unite to Light the Night, Community Showcase - Community Arts Workshop, Santa Barbara California / October 2024

Unite to Light the Night, Glow Gala - Community Arts Workshop, Santa Barbara California / October 2024

MAT End of the Year Show - SBCAST, Santa Barbara, California / June 2024

MAT End of the Year Show - California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) Elings Hall, University of California Santa Barbara / June 2024