Brain as the Ultimate Immersive Space: A Conversation Between Nataliya Kosmyna and Justine Emard

The discussion will bring together artistic and scientific perspectives on the intersections of neuroscience, brain-computer interfaces, and generative AI. Through their respective research and ongoing collaboration, participants will explore how emerging technologies are reshaping our understanding of human imagination, from neural signals and mental imagery to dreams and the possibility of translating brain signals into visual forms.

The conversation will feature Nataliya Kosmyna, PhD, and artist Justine Emard, whose ongoing projects investigate the relationships between brain plasticity, neural networks, and image-making. Bringing artistic experimentation into dialogue with scientific research on non-invasive brain-computer interfaces and neural decoding, they will explore how neural activity might be interpreted and transformed into images, immersive environments, and potentially tangible forms. Together, they will reflect on the evolving relationships between thought, perception, and technology, and on the new possibilities these developments open up for artistic creation and scientific inquiry.

About the Speakers

Nataliya Kosmyna, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scientist at the MIT Media Lab and Google Research, specializing in artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction. With over 16 years of experience in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), her research explores how brain signals can be translated into interactions with machines, including the reconstruction of mental images and the measurement of attention and cognitive fatigue. Her work spans healthcare, education, robotics, and aerospace, with collaborations including Boston Dynamics, NASA, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Justine Emard is a French visual artist whose work explores the evolving relationships between humans and technology, at the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and organic life. Working across photography, video, and virtual reality, she has exhibited internationally at several institutions. Recipient of the CNAP’s national photographic commission Image 3.0 (2020), she has also been invited as an artist-professor at Le Fresnoy. In 2026, Emard is a Villa Albertine resident in Boston and New York, where she is developing a project in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).