a) i was trying to express my confusion with math,and i acheieved this emotion by making my portrait distorted fast,spinning and dizzy. I also put math equations surrounding me.
b)the filters i used were:pinch, zig zag, glass ripple,and liqufy, all directed aroung my head.
c) i didnt use a layer blending mode.
d) i used the special brush hypno lines, then i liqufied it. I didnt really have a specific place for it.