TSU is developing a program to improve people’s cognitive abilities. Scientists will introduce people to states of altered consciousness - relaxation, excitement, and others, which should lead to the opening up of the subjects’ potential: they will quickly and accurately solve mathematical problems. The experiments will begin in September 2018.
TSU psychologists have already proved that people can reveal their creativity, improve their imagination, or become more creative after watching fractal videos with specially selected music.
- The ideal fractal is a structure that, when zoomed in, shows an infinitely large number of new parts that are similar in shape to the original shape. Very often fractals are found in nature, for example, a branch of a tree is similar to itself, the circulatory system is branched to molecular dimensions, and the contours of the coastlines are just as complex when approaching them, - explained Anatoly Tkachenko, a Master’s student. - Fractals cause the brain to process information in a more intense mode than the usual visual series. This can serve as a kind of massager of the brain.
Anatoly Tkachenko, a student in the Master’s program Digital Humanities, is developing a biofeedback system that uses fractals, instead of the traditional video. Usually, scientists choose musical compositions as a signal on the basis of which a visual series is built. TSU scientists are using brain impulses obtained by electroencephalography for this purpose.
- In the biofeedback system, the visual series correlates with brain activity, and we obtain a closed cycle, - explained Anatoly Tkachenko. - People look at the picture, it affects them, and because of this, the brain signals that are read and sent to the program change. Due to this, the picture that affects the brain changes again. Thus, the process goes in cycles. This enhances the effect of entering an altered state.
In September, scientists will invite students to participate in the experiment. With the system created, the test subjects will enter the altered state of consciousness. Then they will be asked to solve a number of mathematical problems. Researchers suggest that students will do this faster and more accurately than usual, as fractals will develop their cognitive abilities.
Scientists think that this method can be used in education, medicine, psychology, and other areas of knowledge. It will be useful for people to train the brain for improving memory and developing creativity and imagination.