Towards Brain-Computer Music Interfaces: Progress and Challenges

Brain-Computer Music Interface (BCMI) is a new research area that is emerging at the cross roads of neurobiology, engineering sciences and music. This research involves three major challenging problems: the extraction of meaningful control information from signals emanating directly from the brain, the design of generative music techniques that respond to such information, and the training of subjects to use the system. We have implemented a proof-of-concept BCMI system that is able to use electroencephalogram information to generate music online. Ongoing research informed by a better understanding of brain activity associated with music cognition, and the development of new tools and techniques for implementing brain-controlled generative music systems offer a bright future for the development of BCMI.