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Thesis Info
- LABS ID
- 00880
- Thesis Title
- Microbial Mood: exploring how sound effects the human microbiome
- Author
- Sophia Charuhas
- E-mail
- mochamagic8 AT gmail.com
- 2nd Author
- Mark Roughley
- 3rd Author
- Kathryn Smith
- Degree
- Master of Arts
- Year
- 2019
- Number of Pages
- University
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Thesis Supervisor
- Supervisor e-mail
- M.A.Roughley AT ljmu.ac.uk
- Other Supervisor(s)
- Language(s) of Thesis
- English
- Department / Discipline
- School of Art and Design
- Copyright Ownership
- Languages Familiar to Author
- URL where full thesis can be found
- Keywords
- Abstract: 200-500 words
- Can sounds treat mood disorders by influencing the human microbiome? Microbial Mood is a practice-led research project that aims to inform the publics about recent scientific research concerning the effects of sound on bacterial growth in the human body by bringing the science laboratory into the public exhibition space. The project comprises three elements; a prototype bioart experiment, a probiotic sculpture, and a three-channel video installation, which suggest that sounds can be used to affect the human microbiome via the gut-brain connection. The bioart experiment included agar plates populated with microbiome samples taken from the cheek of the lead researcher, “listening” to either a recording of an ultrasound bath or the Indian classical song, Raag Kirwani. The soundtracks were chosen based upon the findings of Sarvaiya, N. and Kothari, V. in 2015, that stated how bacteria grows differently in response to specific soundwaves. The prebiotic sculpture comprised of kombucha contained in glass sculptures, growing a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) on top. SCOBYs are an example of a probiotic. Probiotics could help restore a healthy gut bacteria balance, and potentially improve mental health. The three-channel video installation included microscopic and macroscopic images of the lead researcher’s microbiome set to the same soundtracks used in the bioart experiment. It contrasted low and high frequency sounds for their constructive and destructive effects, respectively, on bacterial growth and activity.
Visitors would first enter a "bacterial treatment room," in which they could find the bioart experiment and the kombucha sculptures. They could look and listen to the sounds playing for the bacteria and smell the pungent aroma of fermenting tea. Visitors could then enter a "human treatment room," in which they were immersed in the three-channel video piece that was projected onto three 15ft walls. Here they could hear at full volume the same sounds playing in the bacterial treatment room. This immersive experience allows the viewer to experience what the bacteria are experiencing. It also proposes a future treatment for gut-related mental health disorders through use of sound therapy.
At the end of a two-week exhibition period, the petri dishes in the bio art experiment showed differences in growth, which leads to several questions: The petri dish listening to Raag Kirwani grew more plentiful and diverse microbial communities, while the dish listening to the ultrasonic bath showed negligible growth. The control dish was in between. From these results, could ultrasound (or other high-frequency noises) be used as an alternative to antibiotics if they can successfully kill or inhibit bad bacteria? Could sound therapy be used to heal the gut microbiome? Aside from bringing attention to these questions, Microbial Mood also brought the laboratory to the public eye.