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DocumentAbsorption, immersion, and consciousness2012

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: PT/FB/BL
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Title: BIAL Grants
Start date: 1994
History:
In 1994 the BIAL Foundation launched a programme of science research grants with the aim of encouraging the research into Man’s physical and mental processes, namely in fields still largely unexplored but which warrant further scientific analysis, as Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
Since its launch, applications to the BIAL grants have been increasing. Up to now 461 projects have been supported, involving more than 1000 researchers from 27 countries.
The approved applications have benefited from grants in amounts comprised between €5,000 and €50, 000. The amount to be granted is fixed by the Scientific board according to the needs of each project.
The supported projects have originated, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, 172 out of which were published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Among the BIAL Foundation fellows is worth highlighting the presence of scientists from prestigious universities from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and many others.
The BIAL grants are promoted biannually.

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pastas 1 a 23
Title:
2010 Grants
Start date: 2011-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-027
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/2010
Title:
027 - From trance to transcendence during meditation
Duration: 2011-06 - 2013-06
Researcher(s):
Joseph Glicksohn, Abraham Goldstein, Aviva Berkovich Ohana
Institution(s): The Leslie and Susan Golda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan (Israel)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Financial report and expenditure documents
Progress report
Final report
Book chapter
Language: eng
Author:
Glicksohn, J.
Secondary author(s):
Goldstein, A., Berkovich-Ohana, A.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Altered states of consciousness / Meditation / Trance / Brain structure and function / Cognitive processes / Perception / Consciousness / Assessment tools

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-027.02
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/2010
Title:
Absorption, immersion, and consciousness
Publication year: 2012
Accessibility:
Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Glicksohn, J.
Secondary author(s):
Berkovich-Ohana, A.
Document type:
Book chapter
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Glicksohn, J., & Berkovich-Ohana, A. (2012). Absorption, immersion, and consciousness. In J. Gackenbach (Ed.), Video game play and consciousness (pp. 83-99). New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Virtual reality / Absorption / Immersion / Engagement / Time perception / Consciousness / Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Absorption, immersion, and consciousness

Absorption, immersion, and consciousness
DocumentFinal report - Analgesic properties of computer games2013

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: PT/FB/BL
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Title: BIAL Grants
Start date: 1994
History:
In 1994 the BIAL Foundation launched a programme of science research grants with the aim of encouraging the research into Man’s physical and mental processes, namely in fields still largely unexplored but which warrant further scientific analysis, as Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
Since its launch, applications to the BIAL grants have been increasing. Up to now 461 projects have been supported, involving more than 1000 researchers from 27 countries.
The approved applications have benefited from grants in amounts comprised between €5,000 and €50, 000. The amount to be granted is fixed by the Scientific board according to the needs of each project.
The supported projects have originated, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, 172 out of which were published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Among the BIAL Foundation fellows is worth highlighting the presence of scientists from prestigious universities from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and many others.
The BIAL grants are promoted biannually.

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pastas 1 a 23
Title:
2010 Grants
Start date: 2011-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-105
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 4/2010
Title:
105 - Analgesic properties of computer games
Duration: 2011-09 - 2013-02
Researcher(s):
Stephen Fairclough, Helen Poole
Institution(s): School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Financial report and expenditure documents
Progress report
Final report
Conference paper
Language: eng
Author:
Fairclough, S.
Secondary author(s):
Poole, H.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Cognitive processes / Attention / Pain

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-105.01
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 4/2010
Title:
Final report - Analgesic properties of computer games
Publication year: 2013
URL:
Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/imagem/Bolsa105-10_03012014.pdf
Abstract/Results: RESULTS:
The concept of immersion describes a graded psychological experience that corresponds to the way in which we engage with tasks or stimuli. Selective attention is the psychological mechanism at the heart of an immersive experience. It is also known that selective attention may play an important role during the perception of pain, there is evidence that distraction from painful stimuli can increase pain tolerance. This convergence has led to a line of research where immersion in virtual tasks (e.g. computer games) is utilized for therapeutic purposes and pain relief. The first experiment adopted an Evoked Response Potential (ERP) methodology based on the auditory oddball paradigm. We developed a methodology where participants played a computer game whilst being exposed to a series of tones that were irrelevant to the game. Our participants were exposed to the oddball paradigm during several game conditions. The degree of demand experienced by participants was manipulated to yield easy, hard and impossible levels of difficulty. Participants experienced these three levels of difficulty on three display types: a small 5” display, a large TV display and a Head-Mounted Display (HMD. Our findings revealed that immersion was highest during hard/impossible levels of demand that increased the intrinsic motivation of the participant. However, we found no effect of display type on immersion.
Our second experiment focused on the motivational aspects of immersion and we once again exposed our participants to easy, hard and impossible levels of demand. Instead of using an auditory oddball task to capture ERP modulation, participants were exposed to repeated painful stimuli based on contact heat applied to the forearm. The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether ERP responses to painful stimuli were modulated by the level of game demand. This experiment failed to reveal any statistically significant findings and there were a number of methodological issues that may have been responsible for this null finding.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Fairclough, S.
Secondary author(s):
Burns, C.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Indexed document:
No
Keywords: Immersion / Selective attention / Pain / Games / Motivation / Auditory oddball paradigm / Event-related potential (ERP)

Final report - Analgesic properties of computer games

Final report - Analgesic properties of computer games
DocumentDecomposing immersion: effects of game demand and display type on auditory evoked potentials2013

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: PT/FB/BL
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Title: BIAL Grants
Start date: 1994
History:
In 1994 the BIAL Foundation launched a programme of science research grants with the aim of encouraging the research into Man’s physical and mental processes, namely in fields still largely unexplored but which warrant further scientific analysis, as Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
Since its launch, applications to the BIAL grants have been increasing. Up to now 461 projects have been supported, involving more than 1000 researchers from 27 countries.
The approved applications have benefited from grants in amounts comprised between €5,000 and €50, 000. The amount to be granted is fixed by the Scientific board according to the needs of each project.
The supported projects have originated, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, 172 out of which were published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Among the BIAL Foundation fellows is worth highlighting the presence of scientists from prestigious universities from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and many others.
The BIAL grants are promoted biannually.

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pastas 1 a 23
Title:
2010 Grants
Start date: 2011-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-105
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 4/2010
Title:
105 - Analgesic properties of computer games
Duration: 2011-09 - 2013-02
Researcher(s):
Stephen Fairclough, Helen Poole
Institution(s): School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Financial report and expenditure documents
Progress report
Final report
Conference paper
Language: eng
Author:
Fairclough, S.
Secondary author(s):
Poole, H.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Cognitive processes / Attention / Pain

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-105.02
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 4/2010
Title:
Decomposing immersion: effects of game demand and display type on auditory evoked potentials
Publication year: 2013
URL:
Visitante: / http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2468552&dl=ACM&coll=DL&CFID=310359454&CFTOKEN=39253651
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Immersion is used to describe the degree of psychological engagement with a computer game. A study was performed to investigate the relative contribution of game demand (easy, hard, impossible) and display type (small 5 display, large TV display, head-mounted display) on the experience of immersion. Fifteen participants played a racing game in a range of conditions. Players' experience of immersion was captured via a subjective questionnaire and evoked cortical potentials to an auditory oddball task. Results indicated that slow wave potentials were sensitive to task demand, i.e. impossible demand reduced attention to the game. There was also a weak effect of display type at both frontal and central sites that was indicative of greater immersion for the large TV screen compared to other display types. This study provides preliminary data on the decomposition of immersion into sensory and cognitive components.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Fairclough, S.
Secondary author(s):
Burns, N.
Document type:
Conference paper
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Fairclough, S., & Burns, N. (2013). Decomposing immersion: effects of game demand and display type on auditory evoked potentials. In W. E. Mackay, S. Brewster, & S. Bødker (Eds.), CHI '13 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI EA ’13 (pp. 1095-1100). New York, NY: ACM Press. https://doi.org/10.1145/2468356.2468552
Times cited: N/A
Indexed document: Yes
Keywords: Immersion / Games / Event-related potential (ERP)

Decomposing immersion: effects of game demand and display type on auditory evoked potentials

Decomposing immersion: effects of game demand and display type on auditory evoked potentials
DocumentUse of auditory event-related potentials to measure immersion during a computer game2015

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: PT/FB/BL
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Title: BIAL Grants
Start date: 1994
History:
In 1994 the BIAL Foundation launched a programme of science research grants with the aim of encouraging the research into Man’s physical and mental processes, namely in fields still largely unexplored but which warrant further scientific analysis, as Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
Since its launch, applications to the BIAL grants have been increasing. Up to now 461 projects have been supported, involving more than 1000 researchers from 27 countries.
The approved applications have benefited from grants in amounts comprised between €5,000 and €50, 000. The amount to be granted is fixed by the Scientific board according to the needs of each project.
The supported projects have originated, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, 172 out of which were published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Among the BIAL Foundation fellows is worth highlighting the presence of scientists from prestigious universities from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and many others.
The BIAL grants are promoted biannually.

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pastas 1 a 23
Title:
2010 Grants
Start date: 2011-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-105
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 4/2010
Title:
105 - Analgesic properties of computer games
Duration: 2011-09 - 2013-02
Researcher(s):
Stephen Fairclough, Helen Poole
Institution(s): School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Financial report and expenditure documents
Progress report
Final report
Conference paper
Language: eng
Author:
Fairclough, S.
Secondary author(s):
Poole, H.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Cognitive processes / Attention / Pain

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-105.03
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 4/2010
Title:
Use of auditory event-related potentials to measure immersion during a computer game
Publication year: 2015
URL:
Visitante: / http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1071581914001219
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
The degree of engagement in a computer game is determined by sensory immersion (i.e. effects of display technology) and challenge immersion (i.e. effects of task demand). Twenty participants played a computer game under two display conditions (a large TV vs. head-mounted display) with three levels of cognitive challenge (easy/hard/impossible). Immersion was defined as selective attention to external (non-game related) auditory stimuli and measured implicitly as event-related potentials (ERPs) to an auditory oddball task. The Immersive Experience Questionnaire (IEQ) was used to capture subjective indicators of immersion. The type of display had no significant influence on ERPs or responses to the IEQ. However, subjective immersion was significantly enhanced by the experience of hard and impossible demand. The amplitude of late component ERPs to oddball stimuli were significantly reduced when demand increased from easy to hard/impossible levels. We conclude that ERPs to irrelevant stimuli represent a valid method of operationalising immersion.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Burns, C.
Secondary author(s):
Fairclough, S.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Percentiles:
89.39|1.96
Reference:
Burns, C. G., & Fairclough, S. H. (2015). Use of auditory event-related potentials to measure immersion during a computer game. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 73, 107-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2014.09.002
Impact Factor: 1.476|2015
Times cited: 60|2026-02-08
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Auditory ERP / Immersion / Task demand / Attention
DocumentStill images as portals to immersive and transformative experience: A narrative review2026

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: PT/FB/BL
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Title: BIAL Grants
Start date: 1994
History:
In 1994 the BIAL Foundation launched a programme of science research grants with the aim of encouraging the research into Man’s physical and mental processes, namely in fields still largely unexplored but which warrant further scientific analysis, as Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
Since its launch, applications to the BIAL grants have been increasing. Up to now 461 projects have been supported, involving more than 1000 researchers from 27 countries.
The approved applications have benefited from grants in amounts comprised between €5,000 and €50, 000. The amount to be granted is fixed by the Scientific board according to the needs of each project.
The supported projects have originated, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, 172 out of which were published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Among the BIAL Foundation fellows is worth highlighting the presence of scientists from prestigious universities from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and many others.
The BIAL grants are promoted biannually.

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2024 Grants
Start date: 2025-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024-005
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
005 - A robust AI-test of enchanted psi
Duration: 2025-02 - 2026-03
Researcher(s):
Jim Houran, Brian Laythe
Institution(s): Institute for the Study of Religious and Anomalous Experience - ISRAE, Charlestown (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Article
Language: eng
Author:
Houran, J.
Secondary author(s):
Laythe, B.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Enchantment / Interactionism / Liminality / Psi / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024-005.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Still images as portals to immersive and transformative experience: A narrative review
Publication year: 2026
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.atpweb.org/journal-content.aspx
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Our integrative review of literature on psychology, media studies, aesthetics, neuroscience, and emerging immersive technologies suggests that still images—photographs, paintings, and digital graphics—can immerse viewers and spark personal transformation via four core mechanisms: cognitive-emotional resonance, aesthetic composition, cultural framing, and technological augmentation. We therefore introduce a four-level Psychological Depth Model that builds on these engagement pathways to map viewer involvement from basic attraction, through interactive and immersive states, to full transformative absorption. Anchored in concepts such as Barthes’s punctum, embodied cognition, Gestalt principles, and default-mode network activation during peak aesthetic experiences, our synthesis shows how certain images can operate as uncanny or enchanted spaces that perturb ordinary awareness and catalyze self-expansion and meaning-making. We conclude by outlining gaps in cross-cultural validation, neurocognitive mechanisms, and ethical frameworks for AI-generated imagery, as well as propose future applications in therapeutic, educational, and transpersonal domains.
Accessibility: Docunent exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Houran, J.
Secondary author(s):
Laythe, B., Houran, B. M.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Houran, J., Laythe, B., & Houran, B. M. (2026). Still images as portals to immersive and transformative experience: A narrative review. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 57(2), 158-187.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Absorption / Aesthetic resonance / Immersion / Transformative experience / Visual engagement

Still images as portals to immersive and transformative experience: A narrative review

Still images as portals to immersive and transformative experience: A narrative review
DocumentStill images, shifting minds: Testing the transformative effects of evocative visuals2026

Reference code: PT/FB
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Location: S. Mamede do Coronado
Title:
BIAL Foundation Archive
Start date: 1994
History:
The BIAL Foundation was created in 1994 by Laboratórios BIAL in conjunction with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities. BIAL’s Foundation mission is to foster the scientific study of Man from both the physical and spiritual perspectives.
Along the years the BIAL Foundation has developed an important relationship with the scientific community, first in Portugal and after worldwide. Today it is an institution of reference which aims to stimulate new researches that may help people, promote more health and contribute to new milestones to gain access to knowledge.
Among its activities the BIAL Foundation manages the BIAL Award, created in 1984, one of the most important awards in the Health field in Europe. The BIAL Award rewards both the basic and the clinical research distinguishing works of major impact in medical research.
The BIAL Foundation also assigns Scientific Research Scholarships for the study of neurophysiological and mental health in people, arousing the interest of researchers in the areas of Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
To date the BIAL Foundation has supported 461 projects, more than 1000 researchers, with research groups in twenty-seven countries, resulting, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, out of which 172 published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Since 1996 the BIAL Foundation organizes the Symposia entitled "Behind and Beyond the Brain", a Forum that gathers well renowned neurosciences speakers and the BIAL Foundation Fellows which are spread around the world.
Classified as an institution of public utility, the BIAL Foundation includes among its patrons the Portuguese President, the Portuguese Universities Rectors' Council and the Portuguese Medical Association.
URL: Visitante: / http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: PT/FB/BL
Entity holding: BIAL Foundation
Title: BIAL Grants
Start date: 1994
History:
In 1994 the BIAL Foundation launched a programme of science research grants with the aim of encouraging the research into Man’s physical and mental processes, namely in fields still largely unexplored but which warrant further scientific analysis, as Psychophysiology and Parapsychology.
Since its launch, applications to the BIAL grants have been increasing. Up to now 461 projects have been supported, involving more than 1000 researchers from 27 countries.
The approved applications have benefited from grants in amounts comprised between €5,000 and €50, 000. The amount to be granted is fixed by the Scientific board according to the needs of each project.
The supported projects have originated, until April 2013, in about 600 full papers, 172 out of which were published in indexed international journals with an average impact factor of 3.6 and a substantial number of citations (1665).
Among the BIAL Foundation fellows is worth highlighting the presence of scientists from prestigious universities from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and many others.
The BIAL grants are promoted biannually.

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2024 Grants
Start date: 2025-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024-005
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
005 - A robust AI-test of enchanted psi
Duration: 2025-02 - 2026-03
Researcher(s):
Jim Houran, Brian Laythe
Institution(s): Institute for the Study of Religious and Anomalous Experience - ISRAE, Charlestown (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Article
Language: eng
Author:
Houran, J.
Secondary author(s):
Laythe, B.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Enchantment / Interactionism / Liminality / Psi / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024-005.03
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Still images, shifting minds: Testing the transformative effects of evocative visuals
Publication year: 2026
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
It has been speculated that certain images can provoke immersive and even transformative experiences, depending not only on their content but also on the viewer’s psychological disposition. This study tested such an enactive model of aesthetic perception by assessing how “encounter-proneness”—the tendency to perceive and engage with symbolic or numinous significance in anomalous-altered experiences—shaped responses to 100 curated images (50 “enchanted” and 50 “disenchanted”) in an online convenience sample of 167 adults. Using brief measures of six environmental Gestalt effects and situational-enchantment, we found that encounter-prone participants rated both image types significantly higher in immersive and meaningful qualities than their encounter-resistant counterparts. Moreover, encounter-prone viewers sustained situational-enchantment even in response to low-emotional valence (disenchanted) stimuli. These findings support a co-constructive view of aesthetic engagement, where visual meaning arises from the dynamic interplay between external stimuli and internal dispositions—implicating new design strategies for immersive media, gallery curation, and virtual environments.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Houran, J.
Secondary author(s):
Laythe, B.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Houran, J., & Laythe, B. (2026). Still images, shifting minds: Testing the transformative effects of evocative visuals. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000860
Impact Factor: 3|2025
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2026
Times cited: 0|2026-07-23
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Immersion / Absorption / Photography / Transformative experience / Visual engagement