A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT USING IN VITRO NEURAL NETWORKS more

This paper presents a musical instrument, which uses in
vitro neuronal networks to synthesise sounds. Cultures
of dissociated neurones are grown on a dish with
embedded rectangular array of electrodes (MEA).
Isolated neurones reconnect with one another via
extensive network of synaptically connected projections
to form a dense monolayer of neurones. Cultures are
provided with stimulation, which influences the cultures
activity, and can modify the culture’s state. The core of
the sound synthesis engine of our musical instrument is
a monophonic additive synthesizer using sinusoidal
oscillators. We devised a method to generate
frequencies, phase and amplitude values for the
oscillators from the electrical activity of the neurones.