“Human Connection”

Artist: Audra Bartel, Department of Visual Arts, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Western University 

Scientist: Michaela Kent , Department of Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a type of optical neuroimaging that is becoming an increasingly popular method of studying human brain function. Near infrared light is shone into the brain to measure blood flow, giving an indication of brain activation during different tasks or events. Its advantages over other techniques include that it allows for hyperscanning, or the simultaneous imaging of two people’s brains as they interact. This allows researchers to look at brain synchrony, often characterized by similar patterns of activity. This is represented in the artwork where lines appear to “connect” the brains, whilst also being representative of the physical fNIRS set up. Likewise, the bright colours are representative of the activation seen in different parts of the brain as areas “light up” when we communicate. Michaela, a PhD student in the Neuroscience program, uses fNIRS to study social interactions and the developing brain. For this, she believes that face-to-face communication is key and her research strives to allow neuroscience research to occur in more naturalistic settings. Bringing together art and neuroscience, Audra has created a piece that highlights some key aspects of brain research.

The piece was inspired by the process of communication and how we interact with one another. Using images and references from Michaela’s research, Audra was able to source inspiration that ties human connection together. The colour choice of blue, green and red comes from looking at images of brain scans and how certain areas of the brain are activated.