2014–2016 · University of Oregon

    Metaverses / Seecular

    Visiting Scholar · Visiting Artist · Quantum & Neuroscience Collaboration

    Metaverses/Seecular (2014–2016) was an interdisciplinary art–science research collaboration at the University of Oregon. Hannes Bend was a visiting scholar at the Benjamín Alemán Laboratory for Quantum and Nanoscale Physics and a visiting artist with the Institute of Neuroscience in the Robert and Beverly Lewis Integrative Science Building, developing visualization environments together with physicists, neuroscientists and computer scientists.

    The project connected nanoscale electron microscopy, attention and meditation research, and immersive visualization into a single working programme. Its applied outcome was mYndful — the VR biofeedback modules — and its methodological outcome was the 2016 AAAI symposium paper documenting the approach.

    Collaborators

    • ·Benjamín Alemán Laboratory for Quantum and Nanoscale Physics, University of Oregon
    • ·Dr. Michael Posner — Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive and Decision Sciences, University of Oregon
    • ·Matt Larsen (Computer Science)
    • ·David Miller (Physics)
    • ·Cooper Boydston (Physics)
    • ·Ben McMorran (Physics)
    • ·Nancy Kelley
    • ·Richard Taylor
    • ·Kahli Burke
    • ·Jordan Pierce

    Research components

    • ·EEG study: "Correlation between Visual Stimuli and Brain States" (lab of Edward Vogel)
    • ·fMRI study: "Neural Mechanisms of Multiple Meditation Techniques within Practitioners" — Lewis Center for Neuroimaging
    • ·Development of "Seecular" visualization environments informed by neuroscience and physics
    • ·Early human–machine interface and biofeedback exploration

    a2ru GroundWorks National Conference, 2015

    Metaverses/Seecular was presented at the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (a2ru) GroundWorks National Conference at Virginia Tech, 8–11 November 2015, as one of six transdisciplinary exemplar projects selected for the conference. The presentation took place on 10 November in the parallel critique session “Exploring Peer Review for Transdisciplinary Work,” held at the Cube, Moss Arts Center.

    The official programme publishes a project text describing the work as a University of Oregon art/science collaboration linking physics, psychology, neuroscience, computer science and philosophy — a documentary record of the project as it was presented at the time.

    Official conference programme and project text — PDF

    Metaverses project poster, 2014–2016, Third Culture programme, University of Oregon
    Metaverses project poster, 2014–2016 — University of Oregon.
    Hannes Bend as visiting scholar at the Benjamín Alemán Laboratory for Quantum and Nanoscale Physics, University of Oregon
    Hannes Bend, visiting scholar at the Benjamín Alemán Laboratory for Quantum and Nanoscale Physics, University of Oregon, 2014–2016.
    Metaverses/Seecular — interdisciplinary physics and neuroscience collaboration documentation
    Metaverses/Seecular interdisciplinary physics/neuroscience collaboration, 2014–2016.
    Nanoscale electron-microscopy imagery acquired at CAMCOR, University of Oregon
    Nanoscale electron-microscopy imagery acquired at CAMCOR, University of Oregon.
    Dates
    2014–2016
    Institution
    University of Oregon — Benjamín Alemán Laboratory for Quantum and Nanoscale Physics; Institute of Neuroscience, Robert and Beverly Lewis Integrative Science Building
    Role of Hannes Bend
    Visiting scholar at the Benjamín Alemán Laboratory for Quantum and Nanoscale Physics and visiting artist with the Institute of Neuroscience in the Robert and Beverly Lewis Integrative Science Building; project lead for Metaverses/Seecular
    Methods
    Electron microscopy imagery, EEG, fMRI, immersive visualization, biofeedback prototyping
    Applied outcome
    mYndful VR biofeedback modules
    Positioning
    This research informed the later development of bioadaptive interfaces and human-centered AI environments; the studies were exploratory and are not a diagnosis, with no clinical outcome claimed.

    Publications & presentations

    The Science of Consciousness 2016, University of Arizona (proceedings PDF, p. 112)

    This early biofeedback exploration is the conceptual origin of the bioadaptive AI loop demonstrated on the site.

    Related

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