Painting through the power of thought enabled by scientists

Heide Pfützner, a former teacher from Leipzig, Germany, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Motor Neurone Disease, yet she has managed to produce a series of the paintings with the aid of a new brain controlled computer.

She has been trained to master the device that uses brain waves to take control of a palette of colours, shapes and brushes to produce digital artworks.

Building on decades of knowledge about the meaning of the tiny electrical impulses created by the brain during thought, scientists have been able to create a computer programme which translates thoughts into electronic images.

The system works by detecting changes in the pattern of the user’s brain waves to allow them to select options in software and to move a cursor around a screen in front of them.

The current technology uses a cap with electrodes embedded in it. These detect tiny changes in the electricity coming from the user’s brain that occur as they think.

By concentrating on one of a series of options – such as a tool to draw a circle or a line, to select a colour and to alter its transparency – the software can detect what the user would like to do.

This works as each option flashes in turn and the user must count each time the option they want to select flashes.

The mother-of-four has tested the brain painting device to create a collection of abstract colourful shapes and patterns, which she now sells online. In July she is due to exhibit her work in Easdale, near Oban.