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BIAL Foundation
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DocumentTesting the pagan prescription: Using a randomized controlled trial to investigate pagan spell-casting as a form of noncontact healing2020

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: 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-2010-128
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 24/2010
Title:
128 - Extending the spiritual healing paradigm to explore distant mental interaction effects with Wiccan healers
Duration: 2014-10 - 2019-05
Researcher(s):
Chris Roe, Charmaine Marie Sonnex
Institution(s): Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP), University of Northampton, Psychology Division, Northampton (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Progress report
Final report
Language: eng
Author:
Roe, C. A.
Secondary author(s):
Sonnex, C.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Parapsychology / Healing / Distant healing / Spiritualism / Spiritual traditions/experiences

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-128.02
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 24/2010
Title:
Testing the pagan prescription: Using a randomized controlled trial to investigate pagan spell-casting as a form of noncontact healing
Publication year: 2020
URL:
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2019.0279
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Objectives: This research investigates the healing practices of modern Paganism using a randomized controlled trial. Paganism is a burgeoning belief system in the United Kingdom, within which healing is a key aspect. However, Pagan spell-casting practices have received little attention from distance healing researchers. This study aims to address this gap in the literature. Design: This study utilized a randomized, double-blind, delayed intervention design. Settings/Location: Research took place at the University of Northampton. Subjects: Forty-four participants (30 females, 14 males) were recruited using snowball sampling (mean age?=?24.30; range?=?18-55). Procedure: Participants were randomly allocated to either Group A or B. Participants made written requests to the practitioner about changes they would like to see in their lives and provided a photograph and personal item to be used during the intervention. Participants attended meetings once a week during which they would take part in a guided body scan meditation before completing a quality-of-life measure. Healing practices were conducted for Group A between weeks 1 and 2 and for Group B between weeks 2 and 3. Outcome Measure: Well-being was measured using the 26-item WHOQOL-BREF. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed a significant, positive change in general health from weeks 1 to 4 (F?=?4.02, p?=?0.025, ?2?=?0.149). Separate analysis of variances of the four WHOQOL domains showed significant improvements across the study in the physical and psychologic domains only; there was no significant group difference on any of the outcomes. Conclusion: All participants showed an increase in health and well-being domains directly related to their spell requests. However, there are no group differences to suggest that the spell-casting intervention was responsible.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Sonnex, C.
Secondary author(s):
Roe, C. A., Roxburgh, E. C.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Sonnex, C., Roe, C. A., & Roxburgh, E. C. (2020). Testing the pagan prescription: Using a randomized controlled trial to investigate pagan spell-casting as a form of noncontact healing. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2019.0279
2-year Impact Factor: 2.579|2020
Times cited: 1|2025-09-18
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Randomized controlled trial / Neopaganism / Distance healing / Noncontact healing / Spells / WHOQOL-BREF
DocumentTranscranial pulsed-current stimulation versus transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A pilot, sham-controlled cross-over double-blind study2022

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: http://www.bial.com/pt/
Accessibility: By permission

Reference code: NDE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Characterization of “Near-Death Experiences” through the comparison of experiencers and non-experiencers’ particularities: inter-individual differences in cognitive characteristics and susceptibility to false memories
Duration: 2016-03 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Steven Laureys, Charlotte Martial, Héléna Cassol
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-102
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Transcranial pulsed-current stimulation versus transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A pilot, sham-controlled cross-over double-blind study
Publication year: 2022
URL:
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/4/429/htm
Abstract/Results: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) over the prefrontal cortex can improve signs of consciousness in patients in a minimally conscious state. Transcranial pulsed-current stimulation (tPCS) over the mastoids can modulate brain activity and connectivity in healthy controls. This study investigated the feasibility of tPCS as a therapeutic tool in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) and compared its neurophysiological and behavioral effects with prefrontal tDCS. This pilot study was a randomized, double-blind sham-controlled clinical trial with three sessions: bi-mastoid tPCS, prefrontal tDCS, and sham. Electroencephalography (EEG) and behavioral assessments were collected before and after each stimulation session. Post minus pre differences were compared using Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Twelve patients with DoC were included in the study (eight females, four traumatic brain injury, 50.3 ± 14 y.o., 8.8 ± 10.5 months post-injury). We did not observe any side-effects following tPCS, nor tDCS, and confirmed their feasibility and safety. We did not find a significant effect of the stimulation on EEG nor behavioral outcomes for tPCS. However, consistent with prior findings, our exploratory analyses suggest that tDCS induces behavioral improvements and an increase in theta frontal functional connectivity.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Barra, A.
Secondary author(s):
Rosenfelder, M., Mortaheb, S., Carrière, M., Martens, G., Bodien, Y., Morales-Quezada, L., Bender, A., Laureys, S., Thibaut, A., Fregni, F.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Barra, A., Rosenfelder, M., Mortaheb, S., Carrière, M., Martens, G., Bodien, Y.-G., Morales-Quezada, L., Bender, A., Laureys, S., Thibaut, A. & Fregni, F. (2022) Transcranial pulsed-current stimulation versus transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A pilot, sham-controlled cross-over double-blind study. Brain Sciences, 12, 4, 429. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12040429
2-year Impact Factor: 3.300|2022
Times cited: 18|2025-09-24
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: Minimally conscious state / Coma / Non-invasive brain stimulation / Electrophysiology / Neuromodulation / Randomized controlled trial

Transcranial pulsed-current stimulation versus transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A pilot, sham-controlled cross-over double-blind study

Transcranial pulsed-current stimulation versus transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with disorders of consciousness: A pilot, sham-controlled cross-over double-blind study
DocumentMindRegulation-SEL: Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning on the psychological and biophysiological well-being, socioemotional development, cognitive function and academic achievement of elementary school children2025

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: 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-2022
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2022 Grants
Start date: 2023-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-213
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
213 - RegularMente: Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a guided imagery based Intervention on the well-being, socioemotional and cognitive development, physiologic activity, and academic success of children in school
Duration: 2023-07
Researcher(s):
Iolanda Galinha, Joana Carvalho, Margarida Matos, Augusta Gaspar, António Palmeira, Gina Lemos, Joaquim Melro, Hélder Fernandes, Cátia Reis, Vitória Cardoso, Patrícia Arriaga, Hugo Plácido da Silva, Diego Pinal, Susana Martins
Institution(s): Psychology Research Centre, Autonomous University of Lisbon (Portugal); Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon (Portugal); Lisbon School of Medicine (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Language: eng
Notes:
Ongoing project
Author: Galinha, I.
Secondary author(s):
Carvalho, J., Matos, M., Gaspar, A., Palmeira, A., Lemos, G., Melro, J., Fernandes, H., Reis, C., Cardoso, V., Arriaga, P., da Silva, H. P., Pinal, D., Martins, S.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Guided imagery / Emotional regulation / Socioemotional development / Randomized control trial / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-213.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
MindRegulation-SEL: Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning on the psychological and biophysiological well-being, socioemotional development, cognitive function and academic achievement of elementary school children
Publication year: 2025
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08899-3
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Background
Mental imagery has long been used in psychological therapies, but only recently did research begin to provide a scientific background for it. Imagery interventions are inexpensive and a substantial body of research supports their effectiveness on anxiety reduction, behavior change, promotion of health outcomes, and adherence to medical interventions, in both adults and children. However, literature on the benefits of relaxation and guided imagery interventions for children in elementary school context is very scarce. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to contribute to that knowledge by implementing and testing the benefits of an intervention program MindRegulation-Socioemotional Learning (MR-SEL) comprising breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, instructions for body posture, and guided imagery with socioemotional learning, conveying adaptive beliefs about oneself, the relationships with others and the environment.
Method
The MR-SEL intervention will be developed in the classroom for 15 min before learning activities, three times per week, for 5 months, and its effects will be measured on a range of psychosocial and emotional, biophysiological, and cognitive outcomes. Seventeen classes will be randomly assigned to three conditions: (a) relaxation and guided imagery with SEL (MR-SEL); (b) relaxation only; and (c) waitlist control. The RCT includes four data collection times: pretest, intermediate, posttest, and a 6-month follow-up. The sample comprises 259 students, elementary school third and fourth graders, 8–11 years old. The variables measured are well-being, affect, anxiety, emotional regulation, socioemotional competencies, attention and processing speed, and perceived benefits of the intervention. Physiological indicators of emotional arousal, emotional regulation, stress, and well-being are also taken, specifically, heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, actigraphy, and salivary DHEA-S and cortisol. The validity of the measures will be tested for the population and objectives of the study.
Discussion
Significant improvements on the children’s well-being, socioemotional regulation, cognitive function, physiological activity, and academic performance are expected after 5 months’ intervention at posttest and 11 months’ follow-up at MR-SEL condition, compared to the relaxation and control conditions. Changes in physiological activity are expected during MR-SEL and relaxation sessions. Emotional regulation, well-being, and anxiety are expected to mediate the effects of the interventions over socioemotional competence, cognitive function, and academic performance. Well-being and anxiety levels at pretest are expected to moderate the interventions’ effects.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Galinha, I.
Secondary author(s):
de Carvalho, J., de Oliveira, A., Arriaga, P., Gaspar, A., Silva, H., Ortega, V.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Galinha, I., de Carvalho, J., de Oliveira, A., Arriaga, P., Gaspar, A., Silva, H., & Ortega, V. (2025). MindRegulation-SEL: Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning on the psychological and biophysiological well-being, socioemotional development, cognitive function and academic achievement of elementary school children. Trials, 26(1), 187. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08899-3
2-year Impact Factor: 2|2024
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2025
Times cited: 0|2025-09-27
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: Relaxation / Guided imagery / Self-regulation / Socioemotional development / Randomized controlled trial

MindRegulation-SEL: Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning on the psychological and biophysiological well-being, socioemotional development, cognitive function and academic achievement of elementary school children

MindRegulation-SEL: Randomized controlled trial of the effects of a relaxation and guided imagery intervention with socioemotional learning on the psychological and biophysiological well-being, socioemotional development, cognitive function and academic achievement of elementary school children