READING 1:
Unique visual stimulation may be new treatment for Alzheimer’s
Researchers are conducting experiments on genetically modified mice, to induce them to produce Alzheimer's disease, and studying a new non-invasive technique to help treat the this disease. The treatment is called Unique Visual Stimulation, using gamma oscillations lights, that seem to reduce beta amyloid plaques in the brain of these ill mice. Beta amyloid are proteins present in our brain, between neurons; however, when they are present at a high density, they can obstruct the natural connections between cells and form small plaques that disrupt normal cell function and lead to Alzheimer's disease. Using LED lights flickering at a specific frequency (gamma oscillations), it is possible to reduce the production of this protein in the hippocampus, block the enlargement of these protein plaques, restore normal brain functions like memory, learning and attention. This new treatment has also been shown successful in improving the health of immune cells which can naturally limit the production of beta amyloid proteins. Researchers found that an hour of exposure to light flickering at 40 hertz enhanced gamma oscillations and reduced beta amyloid levels by half in the visual cortex of mice in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s. Studies are still being conducted on mice, so it is not yet known if the same treatment will be effective on humans as well
Summarising with Dotpoints:
Unique Visual Stimulation treatment, using gamma oscillations lights to treat Alzheimer's disease
beta amyloid protein plaques
brain cell functions and connections (disrupted by Alzheimer's disease)
Positive effects of this new treatment
Question: Many experiments carried out on lab mice, are then proved wrong when tested on humans. What experiments/further studies do researchers require to improve this new technique and make it work on human patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease?
READING 2:
Affective Resonance
Affective Resonance is a type of affective dynamics, regarding reciprocal modulation between 2 or more interactants or actors. The phenomenon of resonance comes from the capacity of interactants to affect and influence each other, in an interplay of active, receptive and entangled relations. Affective resonance is therefore based on reciprocity of all individuals involved at once (affecting all and being affected by all at the same time). Resonance can be found in physics, mechanics, psychology, social sciences, design and philosophy. However, this article discusses resonance in the context of relational dynamics and social sciences. Active and receptive actors are in a permanent non-linear coupling, instead of being a single, unilateral event like contagion and other forms of affection, imitation and synchronisation. Examples of affective resonance in social relationship between 2 people or a small group of people, can be the mutual, multi-directional modulation and adjustment of : voice tone, facial expressions, gestures, mood, accent of language and general atmosphere in a relational interplay. These patterns, though still being resonant through the different subjects involved, don't have to be fully symmetrical and synchronised. They can also be asymmetrical and yet still dynamically stabilised, responsive, tuned, mutually resonant between the subjects. Resonance in small groups like work teams and families can determine social relationships like micro-social patterns, affective roles, power-relationships and so on. Some practical examples of relational resonance in small groups of people can be: transmission, suggestion, emotional and affective contagion, chemical brain entrainment. This demands the presence, in the group, of an active part (sender) influencing the passive (receiver). These roles are circular and interchangeable. Resonance can also occur in media techniques (where individuals involved and not physically present in one single space, but can still affect each other). Here, the medium is not only a transmitter and amplifier of a message, but it is also a constitutive role that creates affection (usually political or ethical) the relationships affecting the actors in the group (eg: emerging of empowerment, new forms of attachment, and create social transformation and sub-cultural movements).
Summarising with Dotpoints:
Examples of affective resonance in small group social relationships
Examples of resonance in media, affecting people on a local and global scale (interplay and mutual relationships between people on different scales). This leads to social and transformations and emerging cultural movements.
Characteristics of affective resonance in mutual and modulative social relationships
Question: How do we define active and passive roles in complex social and cultural affective resonance relationships that take place on large-scale social media platforms? How do we measure the effects, consequences and outcomes of these large-scale interactions?
Exercise 2: Revisiting the Black Squares Design Task. This time in colour!
Emotional, Colour, Sonic Resonance
I revisited the Black Squares exercise, which I originally completed in Year 1, Studio 1. This time I created a new composition using coloured squares, and assembling the different elements together based on several concepts, used as inspiration (order, increase, bold, congested, tension, playful). The first draft of the composition is made in Illustrator, as shown in the screenshot below.
Each small, visual composition related to each topic/concept, has been made keeping in mind some main factors:
the meaning of the word/topic/concept (eg: playful, bold, tension etc...)
given topic > inspired emotional prompt > colour resonance
the relationship between all the above elements
After completing the exercise in Illustrator, I made an audiovisual experiment, trying to animate some of these compositions into Premiere Pro, and associating to each one some sonic elements as well. This is to further explore the relationship between visuals/sound, and colour/sound (audiovisual resonance). A first video draft/mockup is available at the following link:
First Experiment: https://youtube.com/shorts/aFYAA4nPSAw
Second Experiment: https://youtube.com/shorts/K7j7V4AsOpU?feature=share
EXERCISE 3: Review the 1.1 and 1.2 TCRE Design Psych pdfs and see if they spark any creative thoughts or ideas - make note of any creative ideas that inspire you to investigate!
Speculating on possible theories, colour models and topics to explore in my assignments
transformative colour illusions
positive and negative emotional valence in response to colour. Managing emotions
Audiovisual resonance affecting limbic and sympathetic system awareness
Colour/sonic resonance
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER when working on assignment:
intensitity
duration
modulation
rhythm
colour harmony
limbic, sympathetic, stochastic resonance
frequency
states of arousal and awareness of mind, thoughts and emotions (are aware of what we're seeing, feeling?)
REFERENCE LIST
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