Announcement poster for the Optogenetics Meeting 2025

The art project is based on an idea to combine currently effective technologies for device-based hearing rehabilitation for deafness with the vision for future developments and to bring them to society. Another goal is to vividly illustrate to the listeners the current Göttingen research on restoring “hearing with light”.

What does it sound like when someone hears again for the first time after years of profound hearing loss or deafness? How does it feel when new technologies make the world of sound clearer and more differentiated than ever before? The specially composed piece of music begins with an explosion of initially fragmented sounds, rhythms and distorted passages of speech, which symbolizes the regaining of hearing through an electrical cochlear implant (eCI). In the course of the piece of music, these sounds merge into a much clearer and more emotional music part, allowing listeners to experience a completely new sensory world. This is intended to represent the possibilities of “hearing with light” through a possible future optical cochlear implant (oCI). This is being developed in Göttingen in many years of research. The goal is to achieve a more natural sound impression than with the eCI by using a more precise use of the tonotopic frequency division of the cochlea. Combined with an animation of pulsating light shapes, flowing colors and rhythmic dance interludes, the music is brought to life. The impression is created that music and language are not only audible, but also visible.

The video was directed by award-winning video artist Boris Seewald, with internationally renowned composer Ralf Hildenbeutel responsible for the music. Together, they created a work that combines research, technology, and emotion in an intense visual and auditory experience.

The members are divided according to their affiliation: (1a) University Medical Center Göttingen and (1b) all other institutions.