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DocumentFinal report - Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation2019

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: AWARE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 2/Outros Apoios
Title:
Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation
Duration: 2015-11
Researcher(s):
Antonino Raffone, Salvatore Maria Aglioti, Henk P. Barendregt, Fabio M. Giommi, Juliana Jordanova, Peter Malinowski, Stephen Whitmarsh
Institution(s): ECONA . Interuniversity Center for Cognitive Processing in Natural and Artificial Systems, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” (Italy)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Language: eng
Notes:
This project is still in progress
Author: Raffone, A.
Secondary author(s):
Salvatore, M. A., Barendregt, H., Giommi, F. M., Jordanova, J., Malinowski, P., Whitmarsh, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Meditation / Awareness

Reference code: AWARE-01
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 2/Outros Apoios
Title:
Final report - Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.bial.com/media/3224/aware-mind-brain.pdf
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Research on meditation and mindfulness on one side, and investigations of consciousness and its neural correlates on the other side, have mostly proceeded independently. Both lines of research have developed remarkably over the last decades, though with a limited cross-reference.
AIMS
The project aimed to bridge mindfulness meditation and consciousness investigations with a particular focus on long-term meditators (Theravada Buddhist monks), and on related neuroplasticity, by investigating both meditation states and traits. Phenomenological reports where emphasized in the project, with their electrophysiological correlates, in experiments with pain and emotional stimuli. The main meditation styles, Focused Attention Meditation (FAM), Open Monitoring Meditation (OMM) and Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM) were investigated in the project, as contrasted with a non-meditative Rest condition. Mind wandering and visual consciousness were also investigated in the project by combining behavioral and subjective report measures. Finally, theoretical developments took place in the project bridging mindfulness meditation and consciousness research lines.
METHOD
Behavioral, phenomenological, electroencephalographic (EEG), magnetoencephalographic (MEG), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and dispositional self-report measures were used in the project. Cross-sectional investigations with long-term virtuoso meditators and a matched group of novice meditators, as well as longitudinal studies with 8 week mindfulness training and pre-post measures also involving a control group, were performed.
RESULTS
The project has found novel neural correlates of the three main forms of meditation FAM, OMM and LKM, in terms of both differential and shared brain activity and functional connectivity patterns. State and trait-related effects with pain and emotion stimuli were also found, in correlation with different dimensions of experience. Pain intensity was found to depend on aversion and identification dimensions of experience, in line with Buddhist psychology. The investigations with long-term meditators revealed a prominent involvement of a widespread alpha rhythm and coherence in the brain, with particular reference to anterior sites of the brain, which can be interpreted as a key neurophysiological marker of consciousness states developed in long-term meditators. Specific effects of mindfulness training on the reduction of mind wandering, and on the time course of perceptual awareness, were also found in the project.
CONCLUSIONS
The project has led to novel insights bridging dimensions of conscious experience with mindfulness meditation training, and on their neural correlates, also leading to new theoretical advances.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Raffone, A.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Raffone, A. (2019). Final report - Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Meditation / Consciousness / Mindfulness / Neurophenomenology / Electroencephalography / Neuroplasticity

Final report - Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation

Final report - Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation
DocumentToward a brain theory of meditation2019

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: AWARE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 2/Outros Apoios
Title:
Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation
Duration: 2015-11
Researcher(s):
Antonino Raffone, Salvatore Maria Aglioti, Henk P. Barendregt, Fabio M. Giommi, Juliana Jordanova, Peter Malinowski, Stephen Whitmarsh
Institution(s): ECONA . Interuniversity Center for Cognitive Processing in Natural and Artificial Systems, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” (Italy)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Language: eng
Notes:
This project is still in progress
Author: Raffone, A.
Secondary author(s):
Salvatore, M. A., Barendregt, H., Giommi, F. M., Jordanova, J., Malinowski, P., Whitmarsh, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Meditation / Awareness

Reference code: AWARE-06
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 2/Outros Apoios
Title:
Toward a brain theory of meditation
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079612318301675?via%3Dihub
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
The rapidly progressing science of meditation has led to insights about the neural correlates of focused attention meditation (FAM), open monitoring meditation (OMM), compassion meditation (CM) and loving kindness meditation (LKM), in terms of states and traits. However, a unified theoretical understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in meditation-related functions, including mindfulness, is lacking. After reviewing the main forms of meditation and their relationships, the major brain networks and brain states, as well as influential theoretical views of consciousness, we outline a Brain Theory of Meditation (BTM). BTM takes the lead from considerations about the roles of the major brain networks, i.e., the central executive, salience and default mode networks, and their interplay, in meditation, and from an essential energetic limitation of the human brain, such that only up to 1% of the neurons in the cortex can be concurrently activated. The development of the theory is also guided by our neuroscientific studies with the outstanding participation of Theravada Buddhist monks, with other relevant findings in literature. BTM suggests mechanisms for the different forms of meditation, with the down-regulation of brain network activities in FAM, the gating and tuning of network coupling in OMM, and state-related up-regulation effects in CM and LKM. The theory also advances a leftward asymmetry in top-down regulation, and an enhanced inter-hemispheric integration, in meditation states and traits, also with implications for a theoretical understanding of conscious access. Meditation thus provides a meta-function for an efficient brain/mind regulation, and a flexible allocation of highly limited and often constrained (e.g., by negative emotion and mind wandering) brain activity resources, which can be related to mindfulness. Finally, a series of experimental predictions is derived from the theory.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Related objects:
BL-2016-066.02
Author: Raffone, A.
Secondary author(s):
Marzetti, L., Del Gratta, C., Perrucci, M. G., Romani, G. L., Pizzella, V.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
68.57|0.92
Reference:
Raffone, A., Marzetti, L., Del Gratta, C., Perrucci, M. G., Romani, G. L., & Pizzella, V. (2019). Toward a brain theory of meditation. Progress in Brain Research, 244, 207-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.028
Impact Factor: 1.746|2019
Times cited: 54|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q4
Keywords: Attention / Brain network / Consciousness / Meditation / Mindfulness / Neuroplasticity / Theory
DocumentVisual attention modulates phenomenal consciousness: Evidence from a change detection study2019

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: AWARE
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 2/Outros Apoios
Title:
Aware Mind-Brain: bridging insights on the mechanisms and neural substrates of human awareness and meditation
Duration: 2015-11
Researcher(s):
Antonino Raffone, Salvatore Maria Aglioti, Henk P. Barendregt, Fabio M. Giommi, Juliana Jordanova, Peter Malinowski, Stephen Whitmarsh
Institution(s): ECONA . Interuniversity Center for Cognitive Processing in Natural and Artificial Systems, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” (Italy)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Language: eng
Notes:
This project is still in progress
Author: Raffone, A.
Secondary author(s):
Salvatore, M. A., Barendregt, H., Giommi, F. M., Jordanova, J., Malinowski, P., Whitmarsh, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Meditation / Awareness

Reference code: AWARE-07
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 2/Outros Apoios
Title:
Visual attention modulates phenomenal consciousness: Evidence from a change detection study
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02150/full
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
The distinction between phenomenal and access consciousness has been influential in the field of consciousness studies. Both Block and Lamme proposed that access consciousness, or narrow cognitive accessibility, is related to a limited capacity working memory, and that phenomenal consciousness, or broad cognitive accessibility, is related to iconic memory or, more recently, to a fragile (intermediate) short-term memory store with a larger capacity than working memory. They have also highlighted the preattentive nature of phenomenal consciousness and of the related iconic and fragile visual short-term stores, thus selectively linking attention with access consciousness, in line with Baars and Dehaene, among others. However, a range of electrophysiological and neurophysiological studies suggest that visual attention can affect early responses of neurons in visual cortex, before conscious access. Furthermore, some theories and neurocomputational models suggest earlier attentional biases related to phenomenal consciousness. To solve this controversy, and to shed light on the relationships of attention with iconic memory and subsequent stages of visual maintenance, we conducted an experiment with a novel procedure of change detection based on delayed cueing of the target for report with high- and low-priority objects marked by color. In line with our hypothesis, the results show an attentional bias toward high-priority objects in the memory array with the longer (600 and 1,200 ms) cueing delays associated with a fragile (intermediate) visual short-term memory, but not with the shorter cueing delays (16.6 and 200 ms) associated with iconic memory. These findings therefore suggest two stages of phenomenal consciousness before access consciousness: a first preattentive stage related to iconic memory and a second stage related to fragile visual short-term memory intermediate between iconic and visual working memory, which is modulated by visual attention in a time-dependent manner. Finally, our results suggest the dissociation between a mid-level visual attention modulating phenomenal consciousness and a central attention directing access consciousness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Simione, L.
Secondary author(s):
Di Pace, E., Chiarella, S. G., Raffone, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
50.14|0.52
Reference:
Simione, L., Di Pace, E., Chiarella, S. G., & Raffone, A. (2019). Visual attention modulates phenomenal consciousness: Evidence from a change detection study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2150. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02150
Impact Factor: 2.067|2019
Times cited: 10|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Attention / Consciousness / Working memory / Iconic memory / Change detection

Visual attention modulates phenomenal consciousness: Evidence from a change detection study

Visual attention modulates phenomenal consciousness: Evidence from a change detection study
DocumentReappearance of command-following is associated with the recovery of language and internal-awareness networks: A longitudinal multiple-case report2019

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: 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-38
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Reappearance of command-following is associated with the recovery of language and internal-awareness networks: A longitudinal multiple-case report
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2019.00008/full
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT
The recovery of patients with disorders of consciousness is a real challenge, especially at the chronic stage. After a severe brain injury, patients can regain some slight signs of consciousness, while not being able to functionally communicate. This entity is called the minimally conscious state (MCS), which has been divided into MCS- and MCS+, respectively based on the absence or presence of language-related signs of consciousness. In this series of cases we aimed to describe retrospectively the longitudinal recovery of specific language-related behaviors using neuroimaging measurement in severely brain-injured patients. Among 209 chronic MCS patients admitted to our center from 2008 to 2018, 19 were assessed at two time points by means of behavioral and neuroimaging assessments. Three of them met our inclusion criteria and were diagnosed as MCS- during their first stay and had recovered command-following when they were reassessed (i.e., MCS+). As compared to their first assessments, when the three patients were in a MCS+, they showed less hypometabolism and/or higher gray matter volume in brain regions such as the precuneus and thalamus, as well as the left caudate and temporal/angular cortices known to be involved in various aspects of semantics. According to these preliminary results, the reappearance of language-related behaviors was concomitant with the recovery of metabolism and gray matter in neural regions that have been associated with self-consciousness and language processing. Prospective studies should be conducted to deepen our understanding of the neural correlates of the recovery of language-related behaviors in chronic MCS.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Aubinet, C.
Secondary author(s):
Panda, R., Larroque, S. K., Cassol, H., Bahri, M. A., Carrière, M., Wannez, S., Majerus, S., Laureys, S., Thibaut, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
55.41|0.71
Reference:
Aubinet, C., Panda, R., Larroque, S. K., Cassol, H., Bahri, M. A., Carrière, M., ... Thibaut, A. (2019) Reappearance of command-following is associated with the recovery of language and internal-awareness networks: A longitudinal multiple-case report. Frontiers in System Neuroscience, 13:8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2019.00008
Impact Factor: 3.293|2019
Times cited: 18|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Minimally conscious state / Language / Consciousness / Positron emission tomography / Structural magnetic resonance imaging

Reappearance of command-following is associated with the recovery of language and internal-awareness networks: A longitudinal multiple-case report

Reappearance of command-following is associated with the recovery of language and internal-awareness networks: A longitudinal multiple-case report
DocumentGeneral anesthesia: A probe to explore consciousness2019

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: 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-43
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
General anesthesia: A probe to explore consciousness
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2019.00036/full
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
General anesthesia reversibly alters consciousness, without shutting down the brain globally. Depending on the anesthetic agent and dose, it may produce different consciousness states including a complete absence of subjective experience (unconsciousness), a conscious experience without perception of the environment (disconnected consciousness, like during dreaming), or episodes of oriented consciousness with awareness of the environment (connected consciousness). Each consciousness state may potentially be followed by explicit or implicit memories after the procedure. In this respect, anesthesia can be considered as a proxy to explore consciousness. During the recent years, progress in the exploration of brain function has allowed a better understanding of the neural correlates of consciousness, and of their alterations during anesthesia. Several changes in functional and effective between-region brain connectivity, consciousness network topology, and spatio-temporal dynamics of between-region interactions have been evidenced during anesthesia. Despite a set of effects that are common to many anesthetic agents, it is still uneasy to draw a comprehensive picture of the precise cascades during general anesthesia. Several questions remain unsolved, including the exact identification of the neural substrate of consciousness and its components, the detection of specific consciousness states in unresponsive patients and their associated memory processes, the processing of sensory information during anesthesia, the pharmacodynamic interactions between anesthetic agents, the direction-dependent hysteresis phenomenon during the transitions between consciousness states, the mechanisms of cognitive alterations that follow an anesthetic procedure, the identification of an eventual unitary mechanism of anesthesia-induced alteration of consciousness, the relationship between network effects and the biochemical or sleep-wake cycle targets of anesthetic agents, as well as the vast between-studies variations in dose and administration mode, leading to difficulties in between-studies comparisons. In this narrative review, we draw the picture of the current state of knowledge in anesthesia-induced unconsciousness, from insights gathered on propofol, halogenated vapors, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, benzodiazepines and xenon. We also describe how anesthesia can help understanding consciousness, we develop the above-mentioned unresolved questions, and propose tracks for future research.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Bonhomme, V.
Secondary author(s):
Staquet, C., Montupil, J., Defresne, A., Kirsch, M., Martial, C., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Chatelle, C., Larroque, S. K., Raimondo, F., Demertzi, A., Bodart, O., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
77.33|1.21
Reference:
Bonhomme, V., Staquet, C., Montupil, J., Defresne, A., Kirsch, M., Martial, C., ..., Gosseries, O. (2019). General anesthesia: A probe to explore consciousness. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 13, 1662-5137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2019.00036
Impact Factor: 3.293|2019
Times cited: 75|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: General anesthesia / Consciousness / Mechanisms / Brain function / Brain networks

General anesthesia: A probe to explore consciousness

General anesthesia: A probe to explore consciousness
DocumentFinal report - Sleeping body, sentient mind? Searching for the neural bases of conscious experiences during sleep2019

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-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-190
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
190 - Sleeping body, sentient mind? Searching for the neural bases of conscious experiences during sleep
Duration: 2017-10 - 2019-06
Researcher(s):
Eus Van Someren, Yishul Wei
Institution(s): Department of Sleep and Cognition, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Author: Van Someren, E.
Secondary author(s):
Wei, Y.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Interoception / Insomnia / Neural correlates of consciousness / Salience / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-190.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - Sleeping body, sentient mind? Searching for the neural bases of conscious experiences during sleep
Publication year: 2019
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Sleep and interoception are important regulating processes of physiological homeostasis and of consciousness. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between them. People with insomnia chronically experience their sleep as conscious wakefulness, which we hypothesize could involve interoception-related neural dysfunctions.
AIMS
By incorporating EEG, neuroimaging, and questionnaire data, we aim to establish direct links between interoception and the experience of (un)consciousness during sleep.
METHOD
Measures of brain network activity including EEG microstate properties and BOLD functional connectivity variability, as well as brain connectivity networks derived from diffusion MRI tractography, were compared between people with insomnia and people without sleep complaints. Self-reported measures were collected in a community-based sample and used to investigate the relationship between somatic complaints and insomnia severity.
RESULTS
The mean duration of a particular class of EEG microstates previously linked to salience network activity is reduced in people with insomnia. Functional connectivity variability between the anterior salience network and the left executive control network is reduced in people with insomnia. People with insomnia show brain structural hyperconnectivity in a subnetwork anchored at the right angular gyrus. Poor sleep and somatic complaints mutually reinforce each other while their relationship is modulated by habitual insomnia severity.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a tight relationship between sleep and interoception. Experience of consciousness during sleep involves aberrant dynamics of the salience network, a key network for interoception
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Van Someren, E.
Secondary author(s):
Wei, Y.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Van Someren, E., & Wei, Y. (2019). Final report - Sleeping body, sentient mind? Searching for the neural bases of conscious experiences during sleep.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Sleep / Insomnia / Consciousness / Interoception / Salience network

Final report - Sleeping body, sentient mind? Searching for the neural bases of conscious experiences during sleep

Final report - Sleeping body, sentient mind? Searching for the neural bases of conscious experiences during sleep
DocumentFinal report - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness2019

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-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-152
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
152 - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness
Duration: 2017-03 - 2019-09
Researcher(s):
Philippe Chouinard, Irene Sperandio, Robin Laycock
Institution(s): La Trobe University, Melbourne (Australia); School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Author: Chouinard, P.
Secondary author(s):
Sperandio, I., Laycok, R.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Lateral occiptal area (LO) / Continuous Flash Superssion (CFS) / Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) / Object features / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-152.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness
Publication year: 2019
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
What is and what is not processed outside of conscious awareness is currently being increasingly investigated as the field begins to appreciate and understand more the involvement of different visual pathways in the brain. Our project aimed to determine the degree to which different object characteristics and objects are processed subconsciously relative to when they are processed consciously and to determine the contribution of the lateral occipital complex (LOC) during these processes. Several behavioural experiments were carried out. The experiments used continuous flash suppression (CFS) and more traditional visual masking paradigms to examine if the form, size, and orientation of objects, as well as words and emotionally salient stimuli, could be processed outside of conscious awareness. These experiments revealed that words and emotionally salient stimuli are processed outside of conscious awareness but not the most basic feature of objects, including their form, size and orientation, at least within the context of visual perception. Our functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment further revealed that LOC contributes to the processing of these features during conscious awareness. Taken together, our findings indicate that it is unlikely that it does so outside of conscious awareness. It seems that consciousness awareness is required for processing the basic features of objects, such as their form, size, and orientation, for perceptual purposes.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Chouinard, P.
Secondary author(s):
Sperandio, I., Laycock, R.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Chouinard, P., Sperandio, I., & Laycock, R. (2019). Final report - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Object features / Vision / Consciousness / Psychophysics

Final report - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness

Final report - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness
DocumentThe mechanisms of size perception inferred by continuous flash suppression and interocular transfer2018

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-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-152
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
152 - The role of the lateral occipital area in the visual processing of object size, shape, and orientation within and outside conscious awareness
Duration: 2017-03 - 2019-09
Researcher(s):
Philippe Chouinard, Irene Sperandio, Robin Laycock
Institution(s): La Trobe University, Melbourne (Australia); School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Author: Chouinard, P.
Secondary author(s):
Sperandio, I., Laycok, R.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Lateral occiptal area (LO) / Continuous Flash Superssion (CFS) / Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) / Object features / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-152.07
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
The mechanisms of size perception inferred by continuous flash suppression and interocular transfer
Publication year: 2018
URL:
Visitante: / https://acnsconference.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/acns-2018-proceedings-with-isbn.pdf
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT
Early visual structures, like the primary visual cortex (V1), have an active role during size perception. We examined interocular transfer in a priming task both within and outside of awareness using continuous flash suppression (CFS). Specifically, stimulus sequences in which a prime and target that were either size-congruent or size-incongruent could be presented in succession to the same eye (monocular condition) or separately to each eye (dichoptic condition). This design enables one to infer the relative contributions of early and later visual structures, as monocular channels remain segregated in early visual areas (like V1 and earlier), but begin to coalesce in the cortex (V1 and beyond). Thus, equivalent reaction times across same and different eye presentations (i.e., interocular transfer) would highlight the importance of later visual areas. Thirty-five participants (Mage = 25.2 years) completed the experiment. Participants categorised a target stimulus as either small or
large. Trials varied prime visibility (CFS vs. visible), prime and target congruency (congruent vs. incongruent size), and eye presentation (monocular vs. dichoptic). A three-way ANOVA revealed a Congruency × Visibility interaction, F(1, 34) = 6.08, p = .02, ?2 p = .15, which was driven by priming effects in the visible (p < .05, d = .25, BF10 = 18.45) but not CFS (p = .99, d = .03, BF10 = 0.23) conditions. There was also an Eye × Visibility interaction, F(1, 34) = 17.10, p < .01, ?2 p = .34, which was driven by a monocular advantage under CFS (p < .01, d = .36, BF10 = 91.25), whereas monocular and dichoptic presentations were equivalent during the visible condition (p = .97, d = .03, BF10 = .21). Taken together, priming effects in the visible but not CFS conditions suggest that awareness is an enabling factor for size perception to occur. Further, we can infer that this is likely mediated by later visual structures, as there was complete interocular transfer of the size information.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Peel, H. J.
Secondary author(s):
Sherman, J. A., Sperandio, I., Laycock, R., Chouinard, P.
Document type:
Abstract book
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Peel, H. J., Sherman, J. A., Sperandio, I., Laycock, R., & Chouinard, P. A. (November 2018) The mechanisms of size perception inferred by continuous flash suppression and interocular transfer. Abstract Book of the 8th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society (p. 75). The University Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Size perception / Consciousness / Perceptual discrimination / Continuous flash suppression (CFS) / Priming / Interocular transfer

The processing of images of spiders and snakes outside of conscious awareness under visual masking

The processing of images of spiders and snakes outside of conscious awareness under visual masking
DocumentToward a brain theory of meditation2019

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-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-066
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
066 - Mindfulness meditation shapes synchronization of brain networks for effective perceptual decision making
Duration: 2017-09 - 2019-09
Researcher(s):
Laura Marzetti
Institution(s): Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti - Pescara (Italy)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Author: Marzetti, L.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Mindfulness meditation / Phase synchrony / Magnetoencephalography / Brain Rhythms / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-066.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Toward a brain theory of meditation
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0079612318301675?via%3Dihub
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
The rapidly progressing science of meditation has led to insights about the neural correlates of focused attention meditation (FAM), open monitoring meditation (OMM), compassion meditation (CM) and loving kindness meditation (LKM), in terms of states and traits. However, a unified theoretical understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in meditation-related functions, including mindfulness, is lacking. After reviewing the main forms of meditation and their relationships, the major brain networks and brain states, as well as influential theoretical views of consciousness, we outline a Brain Theory of Meditation (BTM). BTM takes the lead from considerations about the roles of the major brain networks, i.e., the central executive, salience and default mode networks, and their interplay, in meditation, and from an essential energetic limitation of the human brain, such that only up to 1% of the neurons in the cortex can be concurrently activated. The development of the theory is also guided by our neuroscientific studies with the outstanding participation of Theravada Buddhist monks, with other relevant findings in literature. BTM suggests mechanisms for the different forms of meditation, with the down-regulation of brain network activities in FAM, the gating and tuning of network coupling in OMM, and state-related up-regulation effects in CM and LKM. The theory also advances a leftward asymmetry in top-down regulation, and an enhanced inter-hemispheric integration, in meditation states and traits, also with implications for a theoretical understanding of conscious access. Meditation thus provides a meta-function for an efficient brain/mind regulation, and a flexible allocation of highly limited and often constrained (e.g., by negative emotion and mind wandering) brain activity resources, which can be related to mindfulness. Finally, a series of experimental predictions is derived from the theory.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Related objects:
AWARE-06
Author: Raffone, A.
Secondary author(s):
Marzetti, L., Del Gratta, C., Perrucci, M. G., Romani, G. L., Pizzella, V.
Document type:
Article-d
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
68.57|0.92
Reference:
Raffone, A., Marzetti, L., Del Gratta, C., Perrucci, M. G., Romani, G. L., & Pizzella, V. (2019). Toward a brain theory of meditation. Progress in Brain Research, 244, 207-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.10.028
Impact Factor: 1.746|2019
Times cited: 54|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q4
Keywords: Meditation / Consciousness / Mindfulness / Attention / Brain network / Neuroplasticity / Theory
Document(Dis)Connectivities of Awakening2019

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-2014
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2014 Grants
Start date: 2015-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2014-536
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
536 - Void consciousness: Investigating the neural network correlates of an exceptional meditative experience with EEG-MREG
Duration: 2015-09 - 2020-03
Researcher(s):
Ulf Winter, Pierre LeVan, Stefan Martin Schmidt
Institution(s): Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg (Germany); Dept. of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center Freiburg (Germany)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Winter, U.. LeVan, P.. Schmidt, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Neural correlates of consciousness / Meditation / EEG / fMRI / Functional connectivity / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2014-536.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
(Dis)Connectivities of Awakening
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.tsc2019-interlaken.ch/app/download/7833890754/program_abstracts_online_corr4.pdf?t=1562607584
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Within contemplative traditions states of consciousness without any specific content are described, which could represent a minimal, basic form of conscious experience.
Therefore, the neuroscientific investigation of such states of consciousness could open a new and unique, approach to understanding the minimal neuronal correlate of the conscious state or consciousness itself.
We are currently investigating the neurophysiologic correlates of deep content-reduced meditative states in expert and novice meditators from different traditions by using latest integrated EEG-fMRI.
Here we present – for the very first time - data of two independent measurements in an extraordinary qualified meditator (meditating for over 35 years or 50,000 hours) who reported to had an experience of awakening during the EEG-fMRI measurement.
The experience was described by the subject as ‘awareness-resting-in-it-self’ or ‘clear open awareness’ without any thoughts, body- or sense perception and even without any sense of self, time and space.
The focus of the presentation is on the results of a detailed analysis of the dynamic functional connectivity within and between specific functional networks related to conscious awareness. Implications for the search of the minimal neural correlates of
consciousness are discussed.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Winter, U.
Secondary author(s):
LeVan, P., Schmidt, S.
Document type:
Abstract book
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Winter, U., LeVan, P., & Schmidt, S. (2019). (Dis)Connectivities of Awakening. Abstracts in-depth workshops of the Science of Consciousness (pp. 124 -125). Interlaken, Switzerland.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Consciousness / Meditation / Functional connectivity

(Dis)Connectivities of Awakening

(Dis)Connectivities of Awakening
DocumentNear-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness2020

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: 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-50
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Near-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness
Publication year: 2020
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(19)30312-2
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Forty-five years ago, the first evidence of near-death experience (NDE) during comatose state was provided, setting the stage for a new paradigm for studying the neural basis of consciousness in unresponsive states. At present, the state of consciousness associated with NDEs remains an open question. In the common view, consciousness is said to disappear in a coma with the brain shutting down, but this is an oversimplification. We argue that a novel framework distinguishing awareness, wakefulness, and connectedness is needed to comprehend the phenomenon. Classical NDEs correspond to internal awareness experienced in unresponsive conditions, thereby corresponding to an episode of disconnected consciousness. Our proposal suggests new directions for NDE research, and more broadly, consciousness science.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Martial, C.
Secondary author(s):
Cassol, H., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
81.30|1.37
Reference:
Martial, C., Cassol, H., Laureys, S., & Gosseries, O. (2020). Near-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 24(3), 173-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2019.12.010
Impact Factor: 20.229|2020
Times cited: 65|2026-02-12
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Consciousness / Connectedness / Near-death experience / Phenomenology / Coma

Near-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness

Near-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness
DocumentNeurophenomenology of near-death experience memory in hypnotic recall: a within-subject EEG study2019

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: 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-51
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Neurophenomenology of near-death experience memory in hypnotic recall: a within-subject EEG study
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-50601-6
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
The neurobiological basis of near-death experiences (NDEs) is unknown, but a few studies attempted to investigate it by reproducing in laboratory settings phenomenological experiences that seem to closely resemble NDEs. So far, no study has induced NDE-like features via hypnotic modulation while simultaneously measuring changes in brain activity using high-density EEG. Five volunteers who previously had experienced a pleasant NDE were invited to re-experience the NDE memory and another pleasant autobiographical memory (dating to the same time period), in normal consciousness and with hypnosis. We compared the hypnosis-induced subjective experience with the one of the genuine experience memory. Continuous high-density EEG was recorded throughout. At a phenomenological level, we succeeded in recreating NDE-like features without any adverse effects. Absorption and dissociation levels were reported as higher during all hypnosis conditions as compared to normal consciousness conditions, suggesting that our hypnosis-based protocol increased the felt subjective experience in the recall of both memories. The recall of a NDE phenomenology was related to an increase of alpha activity in frontal and posterior regions. This study provides a proof-of-concept methodology for studying the phenomenon, enabling to prospectively explore the NDE-like features and associated EEG changes in controlled settings.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Martial, C.
Secondary author(s):
Mensen, A., Charland-Verville, V., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Rentmeister, D., Ali Bahri, M., Cassol, H., Englebert, J., Gosseries, O., Laureys, S., Faymonville, M-E.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
61.86|0.83
Reference:
Martial, C., Mensen, A., Charland-Verville, V., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Rentmeister, D., Ali Bahri, M., Cassol, H., Englebert, J., Gosseries, O., Laureys, S., & Faymonville, M-E. (2019). Neurophenomenology of near-death experience memory in hypnotic recall: a within-subject EEG study. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 14047. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50601-6
Impact Factor: 3.998|2019
Times cited: 21|2026-02-12
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Consciousness / Perception

Neurophenomenology of near-death experience memory in hypnotic recall: a within-subject EEG study

Neurophenomenology of near-death experience memory in hypnotic recall: a within-subject EEG study
DocumentSynesthesia and the perception of unseen realities2020

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-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-329
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
329 - Exploring the correlates and nature of subjective apparitional experiences
Duration: 2018-04 - 2020-06
Researcher(s):
Christine Simmonds-Moore, Donadrian Rice, Chase O'Gwin
Institution(s): Psychology Department, University of West Georgia, Carrollton (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Author: Simmonds-Moore, C.
Secondary author(s):
Rice, D., O'Gwin, C.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Apparitions / Synesthesia / Boundary thinness / Psychomanteum / Parapsychology and Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-329.04
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Synesthesia and the perception of unseen realities
Publication year: 2020
URL:
Visitante: / https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022167820918691
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Exceptional experiences (ExE) incorporate a range of phenomena including subjective paranormal and transpersonal experiences. Synesthesia and synesthetic experiences are discussed as important variables in understanding the etiologies of ExE. The neural and psychological correlates of synesthetic experiences (associated with hyperconnectivity) are discussed in relation to ExE. It is argued that synesthetic processes enable both the detection and conscious perception of information from a range of sources that are usually unseen or inaccessible, including abstract, unlanguaged, preconscious, and potentially other nonlocal sources.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Related objects:
BL-2010-223.05
Author: Simmonds-Moore, C.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
14.83|0.11
Reference:
Simmonds-Moore, C. (2020). Synesthesia and the perception of unseen realities. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 62(2), 187-207. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167820918691
Impact Factor: 2.039|2020
Times cited: 2|2026-02-12
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: Synesthesia / Exceptional experiences (ExE) / Hyperconnectivity / Strong mental imagery / Consciousness / Psi / Transpersonal
DocumentSynesthesia and the perception of unseen realities2020

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-2010-223
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 7/2010
Title:
223 - Exploring the relationship between the synaesthesias and anomalous experiences
Duration: 2011-09 - 2013-05
Researcher(s):
Christine Simmonds-Moore, Carlos S. Alvarado, Nancy Zingrone, Ferrell Carpenter
Institution(s): University of West Georgia (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Financial report and expenditure documents
Progress report
Final report
1 Poster
Language: eng
Author:
Simmonds-Moore, C.
Secondary author(s):
Alvarado, C. S., Zingrone, N. L., Carpenter, F.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Parapsychology / Anomalous cognition/experiences / Extrasensory perception (ESP) / Personality factors / Assessment tools

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2010-223.05
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 7/2010
Title:
Synesthesia and the perception of unseen realities
Publication year: 2020
URL:
Visitante: / https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022167820918691
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Exceptional experiences (ExE) incorporate a range of phenomena including subjective paranormal and transpersonal experiences. Synesthesia and synesthetic experiences are discussed as important variables in understanding the etiologies of ExE. The neural and psychological correlates of synesthetic experiences (associated with hyperconnectivity) are discussed in relation to ExE. It is argued that synesthetic processes enable both the detection and conscious perception of information from a range of sources that are usually unseen or inaccessible, including abstract, unlanguaged, preconscious, and potentially other nonlocal sources.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Related objects:
BL-2016-329.04
Author: Simmonds-Moore, C.
Document type:
Article-d
Number of reproductions:
2
Percentiles:
14.83|0.11
Reference:
Simmonds-Moore, C. (2020). Synesthesia and the perception of unseen realities. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167820918691
Impact Factor: 2.039|2020
Times cited: 2|2026-02-12
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: Synesthesia / Exceptional experiences (ExE) / Hyperconnectivity / Strong mental imagery / Consciousness / Psi / Transpersonal
File091 - Mentation report analysis across distinct states of consciousness: A linguistic approach2021-022024-02

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-2020
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2020 Grants
Start date: 2021-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-091
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
091 - Mentation report analysis across distinct states of consciousness: A linguistic approach
Duration: 2021-02 - 2024-02
Researcher(s):
Giulio Bernardi, Giulia Avvenuti, Michele Bellesi, Valentina Elce, Emanuela Merelli
Institution(s): IMT School for Advanced Studies, Lucca (Italy); University of Camerino (Italy)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Bernardi, G.
Secondary author(s):
Avvenuti, G., Bellesi, M., Elce, V., Merelli, E.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Dreams / Daydreaming / Language / Consciousness / Psychophysiology
DocumentPsychophysical interactions with photons: Three exploratory studies with unexpected results2021

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-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-124
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
124 - The missing photon experiment: Does focused attention employ matter as an agent for interacting with light?
Duration: 2017-02 - 2021-02
Researcher(s):
Loren Carpenter
Institution(s): Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Article
Author: Carpenter, L.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Psychokinesis / Mind-matter / Photon / Light / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-124.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Psychophysical interactions with photons: Three exploratory studies with unexpected results
Publication year: 2021
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Interactions between focused mental intention and two properties of light (polarization and scattering) were studied in three exploratory experiments. To detect effects in polarization, a laser beam was passed through horizontal and vertical polarizers. Participants were asked to alternately focus their attention toward and away from the beam between the two polarizers. If attention affected the photons’ plane of polarization, then the illumination intensity of the beam exiting the second polarizer should increase. Two experiments with different apparatus showed significant effects contrary to this expectation. To follow up on those results, a third experiment explored whether attention focused toward light would cause it to scatter (or refract, or be absorbed), resulting in a decrease in overall illumination. To test this idea, the intensity of a laser beam passing through a reflective sphere was recorded, along with any light deflected from the beam and ending up inside the sphere. The result was again contrary to expectation, with the light beam intensity significantly increasing after exiting the sphere. Interpretations of these results are discussed.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Carpenter, L.
Secondary author(s):
Cannard, C., Wahbeh, H., Radin, D.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Carpenter, L., Cannard, C., Wahbeh, H., & Radin, D. (2021). Psychophysical interactions with photons: Three exploratory studies with unexpected results. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 85(1), 31-48.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Mind-matter interactions / Photons / Polarization / Consciousness
DocumentTwo replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times2021

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-2012
Location: SEC PCA
Title:
2012 Grants
Start date: 2013-02

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-233
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 5/2012
Title:
233 - The Study of Experimenter Effects in the Replication of Psi Experiments: A Global Initiative
Duration: 2013-07 - 2015-04
Researcher(s):
Marilyn Schlitz, Daryl Bem, Arnaud Delorme
Institution(s): Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Progress reports
Final report
Language: eng
Author:
Schlitz, M.
Secondary author(s):
Bem, D., Delorme, A.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Parapsychology / Paranormal belief

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-233.03
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 5/2012
Title:
Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times
Publication year: 2021
URL:
Visitante: / https://journalofscientificexploration.org/index.php/jse/article/view/1903
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Two experiments involving an international collaboration of experimenters sought to replicate and extend a previously published psi experiment on precognition by Daryl Bem that has been the focus of extensive research. The experiment reverses the usual cause–effect sequence of a standard psychology experiment using priming and reaction times. The preregistered confirmatory hypothesis is that response times to incongruent stimuli will be longer than response times to congruent stimuli even though the prime has not yet appeared when the participant records their judgments. The confirmatory hypothesis for Experiment 1 was not supported. Exploratory analyses indicated that those participants who completed the English-language version rather than a translation showed a significant effect, as was the case in the original study; no significant departure from chance was found in data involving non-English translations. Experiment 2 sought to enhance the predicted effect by having each participant read either a pro-psi or an anti-psi statement at the beginning of the experiment to test the pre-recorded hypothesis that a pro-psi statement would produce a larger effect than an anti-psi statement. The results did not support the primary psi hypothesis and there was no effect in the English-language sample. However, there was mixed support for the effect of the psi statement on performance; those participants who received the pro-psi statement had a greater psi score than those who received the anti-psi statement. As in the original experiment, neither the experimenters’ nor participants’ beliefs were significantly associated with the dependent measure. In sum, the pre-registered confirmatory hypotheses were not supported. The importance of the personality variable Sensation Seeking, a component of extraversion, as a correlate of psi performance is discussed as are the challenges and implications for international collaborations and replication in controversial science.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Related objects:
BL-2014-480.04
Author: Schlitz, M.
Secondary author(s):
Bem, D., Marcussion-Clavertz, D., Cardena, E., Lyke, J., Grover, R., Blackmore, S., Tressoldi, P., Roney-Dougal, S., Bierman, D., Jolij, J., Lobach, E., Hartelius, G., Delorme, A.
Document type:
Article-d
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Schlitz, M., Bem, D., Marcussion-Clavertz, D., Cardena, E., Lyke, J., Grover, R., ..., Delorme, A. (2021). Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 35(1), 65-90. https://doi.org/10.31275/20211903
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Priming / Expectancy effect / Retrocausation / Consciousness / Sociology / Precognition / Psi / Replication

Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times

Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times
DocumentTwo replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times2021

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-2014
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2014 Grants
Start date: 2015-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2014-480
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
480 - The Role of Experimenter and Participant Mindset in the Replication of Psi Experiments: Phase II of a Global Initiative
Duration: 2015-07 - 2017-07
Researcher(s):
Marilyn Schlitz
Institution(s): Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Schlitz, M.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Retro-active facilitation / Priming / Experimenter effect / Mindset / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2014-480.04
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times
Publication year: 2021
URL:
Visitante: / https://journalofscientificexploration.org/index.php/jse/article/view/1903
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Two experiments involving an international collaboration of experimenters sought to replicate and extend a previously published psi experiment on precognition by Daryl Bem that has been the focus of extensive research. The experiment reverses the usual cause–effect sequence of a standard psychology experiment using priming and reaction times. The preregistered confirmatory hypothesis is that response times to incongruent stimuli will be longer than response times to congruent stimuli even though the prime has not yet appeared when the participant records their judgments. The confirmatory hypothesis for Experiment 1 was not supported. Exploratory analyses indicated that those participants who completed the English-language version rather than a translation showed a significant effect, as was the case in the original study; no significant departure from chance was found in data involving non-English translations. Experiment 2 sought to enhance the predicted effect by having each participant read either a pro-psi or an anti-psi statement at the beginning of the experiment to test the pre-recorded hypothesis that a pro-psi statement would produce a larger effect than an anti-psi statement. The results did not support the primary psi hypothesis and there was no effect in the English-language sample. However, there was mixed support for the effect of the psi statement on performance; those participants who received the pro-psi statement had a greater psi score than those who received the anti-psi statement. As in the original experiment, neither the experimenters’ nor participants’ beliefs were significantly associated with the dependent measure. In sum, the pre-registered confirmatory hypotheses were not supported. The importance of the personality variable Sensation Seeking, a component of extraversion, as a correlate of psi performance is discussed as are the challenges and implications for international collaborations and replication in controversial science.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Related objects:
BL-2012-233.03
Author: Schlitz, M.
Secondary author(s):
Bem, D., Marcussion-Clavertz, D., Cardena, E., Lyke, J., Grover, R., Blackmore, S., Tressoldi, P., Roney-Dougal, S., Bierman, D., Jolij, J., Lobach, E., Hartelius, G., Delorme, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Schlitz, M., Bem, D., Marcussion-Clavertz, D., Cardena, E., Lyke, J., Grover, R., ..., Delorme, A. (2021). Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 35(1), 65-90. https://doi.org/10.31275/20211903
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Priming / Expectancy effect / Retrocausation / Consciousness / Sociology / Precognition / Psi / Replication

Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times

Two replication studies of a time-reversed (Psi) priming task and the role of expectancy in reaction times
DocumentAgeing and agency: Age-related changes in susceptibility to illusory experiences of control2017

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-2012
Location: SEC PCA
Title:
2012 Grants
Start date: 2013-02

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-074
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 14/2012
Title:
074- Mechanisms of self-other distinction in mirror-touch synaesthesia
Duration: 2013-10 - 2016-04
Researcher(s):
Michael Joseph Banissy, James Moore
Institution(s): Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Progress reports
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Banissy, M.
Secondary author(s):
Moore, J.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Self / Body awareness / Body structure and function / Somatosensory system

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-074.11
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 14/2012
Title:
Ageing and agency: Age-related changes in susceptibility to illusory experiences of control
Publication year: 2017
URL:
Visitante: / https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.161065
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Sense of agency (SoAg) is the feeling of control over one's actions and their effects. It can be augmented or attenuated by internal signals and by external cues. Research has shown a reduction in the SoAg in older adulthood, but the reasons behind this change remain unclear. We investigated agency processing differences that may underpin age-related changes in SoAg. Using a modified version of a vicarious agency paradigm, we tested the modulation of SoAg by manipulating external situational agency cues in younger and older adults. Our results show that the illusion of vicarious agency was less pronounced in older adults. These results were replicated in a second experiment which also showed that older adults performed significantly better in interoception and proprioception tasks. We suggest that increased reliance on internal cues may explain differences in agency processing in older adulthood.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Ageing
Secondary author(s):
Consciousness, Volition, Interoception, Proprioception
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Percentiles:
53.03|0.63
Reference:
Cioffi, M.C., Cocchini, G., Banissy, M. J., & Moore, J. W. (2017). Ageing and agency: age-related changes in susceptibility to illusory experiences of control. Royal Society Open Science, 4(5): 161065. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.161065
Impact Factor: 2.504|2017
Times cited: 18|2026-02-08
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Interoception / Ageing / Proprioception / Volition / Consciousness

Ageing and agency: Age-related changes in susceptibility to illusory experiences of control

Ageing and agency: Age-related changes in susceptibility to illusory experiences of control
DocumentBehavioral and electrophysiological effects of network-based frontoparietal tDCS in patients with severe brain injury: A randomized controlled trial2020

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: 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-67
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Behavioral and electrophysiological effects of network-based frontoparietal tDCS in patients with severe brain injury: A randomized controlled trial
Publication year: 2020
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7511767/
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may promote the recovery of severely brain-injured patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Prior tDCS studies targeted single brain regions rather than brain networks critical for consciousness recovery.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of multifocal tDCS applied over the frontoparietal external awareness network in patients with chronic acquired DOC.
METHODS
Forty-six patients were included in this randomized double-blind sham-controlled crossover trial (median [interquartile range]: 46 [35 - 59] years old; 12 [5 - 47] months post injury; 17 unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, 23 minimally conscious state (MCS) and 6 emerged from the MCS). Multifocal tDCS was applied for 20 min using 4 anodes and 4 cathodes with 1 mA per electrode. Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) assessment and 10 min of resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were acquired before and after the active and sham sessions.
RESULTS
At the group level, there was no tDCS behavioral treatment effect. However, following active tDCS, the EEG complexity significantly increased in low frequency bands (1-8 Hz). CRS-R total score improvement was associated with decreased baseline complexity in those bands. At the individual level, after active tDCS, new behaviors consistent with conscious awareness emerged in 5 patients. Conversely, 3 patients lost behaviors consistent with conscious awareness.
CONCLUSION
The behavioral effect of multifocal frontoparietal tDCS varies across patients with DOC. Electrophysiological changes were observed in low frequency bands but not translated into behavioral changes at the group level.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Martens, G.
Secondary author(s):
Kroupi, E., Bodien, Y., Frasso, G., Annen, J., Cassol, H., Barra, A., Martial, C., Gosseries, O., Lejeune, N., Soria-Frisch, A., Ruffini, G., Laureys, S., Thibaut, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
81.64|1.49
Reference:
Martens, G., Kroupi, E., Bodien, Y., Frasso, G., Annen, J., Cassol, H., Barra, A., ... Thibaut, A. (2020). Behavioral and electrophysiological effects of network-based frontoparietal tDCS in patients with severe brain injury: A randomized controlled trial. NeuroImage: Clinical, 28: 102426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102426
Impact Factor: 4.881|2020
Times cited: 36|2026-02-12
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: TDCS / Network / Minimally conscious state / Unresponsive wakefulness syndrome / EEG / Consciousness

Behavioral and electrophysiological effects of network-based frontoparietal tDCS in patients with severe brain injury: A randomized controlled trial

Behavioral and electrophysiological effects of network-based frontoparietal tDCS in patients with severe brain injury: A randomized controlled trial