Marta Molinas
Professor of Electrical Engineering
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
“When Attention Makes Flowers Bloom: Growing a Sunflower Field with Brain Signals”
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What to Expect on Stage
What if attention could make flowers grow? In this talk, we explore a playful yet scientifically grounded brain computer interface (BCI) experiment in which participants cultivate a digital sunflower field using only their focused attention. Using EEG signals associated with attentional engagement [R] (such as alpha power modulation and the theta–beta ratio), the system translates changes in brain activity into visual growth. When participants maintain focused attention on a seed hidden beneath the soil, the seed germinates and a sunflower gradually blooms. The stronger and more sustained the attention, the more flowers appear across the field. This interactive neurofeedback paradigm transforms abstract brain signals into an intuitive visual metaphor for attention. Beyond its engaging format, the experiment demonstrates how brain–computer interfaces can be used to monitor and train cognitive states in real time. The approach opens new possibilities for attention training, educational tools, and therapeutic applications for attention-related disorders.
About
Marta Molinas is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where she leads the Brain Cybernetics Lab (Department of Engineering Cybernetics). She earned her Doctor of Engineering degree from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2000 and has held positions as a JSPS Fellow in Japan and a visiting professor at Columbia University. Her research focuses on developing source-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems for both medical and non-medical applications. Dr. Molinas is a Fellow of IEEE and serves on editorial boards for the IEEE Society and Springer Nature.
