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DocumentBrain correlates of hypnosis: A systematic review and meta-analytic exploration2017

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-2014-118
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
118 - Recursive consciousness training: Using neurofeedback to induce altered states
Duration: 2015-09 - 2017-11
Researcher(s):
Amir Raz, Niels Birbaumer, Robert T Thibault
Institution(s): Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University (Canada); Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen (Germany)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Raz, A.
Secondary author(s):
Birmaumer, N., Thibault, R. T.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Brain Self-Regulation / Altered States of Consciousness / Neurofeedback / Meditation / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2014-118.16
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Brain correlates of hypnosis: A systematic review and meta-analytic exploration
Publication year: 2017
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763416306030
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Imaging of the living human brain elucidates the neural dynamics of hypnosis; however, few reliable brain patterns emerge across studies. Here, we methodically assess neuroimaging assays of hypnosis to uncover common neural configurations using a twofold approach. First, we systematically review research on the neural correlates of hypnotic phenomena; then, we meta-analyze these collective data seeking specific activation and deactivation patterns that typify hypnosis. Anchored around the role of top-down control processes, our comprehensive examination focuses on the involvement of intrinsic brain networks known to support cognitive control and self-referential cognition, including the executive, salience, and default networks. We discuss how these neural dynamics may relate to contemporary theories of hypnosis and show that hypnosis correlates with activation of the lingual gyrus a brain region involved in higher order visual processing and mental imagery. Our findings help to better understand the neurobiological substrates comprising the appellation hypnosis.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Landry, M.
Secondary author(s):
Lifshitz, M., Raz, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
89.67|2.10
Reference:
Landry, M., Lifshitz, M., & Raz, A. (2017). Brain correlates of hypnosis: A systematic review and meta-analytic exploration. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 81(Pt A), 75-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.02.020
Impact Factor: 8.037|2017
Times cited: 161|2026-02-08
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Hypnosis / Neuroimaging; / Attention / Consciousness / Central executive network / Salience network / Default network / Activation likelihood estimates

DocumentDreaming and offline memory consolidation2014

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-2012-083
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 20/2012
Title:
083 - The impact of future relevance on dream content and sleep-dependent memory processing
Duration: 2013-05 - 2016-11
Researcher(s):
Erin J. Wamsley, Robert Stickgold, Nam Nguyen
Institution(s): Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Progress report
Final report
2 Bachelor dissertations
Article
Language: eng
Author:
Wamsley, E.
Secondary author(s):
Stickgold, R., Nguyen, N.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Sleep and dreams / Cognitive processes / Memory

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-083.07
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 20/2012
Title:
Dreaming and offline memory consolidation
Publication year: 2014
URL:
Visitante: / https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11910-013-0433-5
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Converging evidence suggests that dreaming is influenced by the consolidation of memory during sleep. Following encoding, recently formed memory traces are gradually stabilized and reorganized into a more permanent form of long-term storage. Sleep provides an optimal neurophysiological state to facilitate this process, allowing memory networks to be repeatedly reactivated in the absence of new sensory input. The process of memory reactivation and consolidation in the sleeping brain appears to influence conscious experience during sleep, contributing to dream content recalled on awakening. This article outlines several lines of evidence in support of this hypothesis, and responds to some common objections.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Wamsley, E. J.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Percentiles:
74.66|0.91
Reference:
Wamsley, E. J. (2014). Dreaming and offline memory consolidation. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 14(3): 433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-013-0433-5
Impact Factor: 3.059|2014
Times cited: 66|2026-02-06
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Sleep / Dreaming / Rapid eye movement / Non-rapid eye movement / Memory consolidation / Offline processing / Memory reactivation / Replay / Consciousness

Dreaming and offline memory consolidation

Dreaming and offline memory consolidation

DocumentPsychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness2018

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-2014-228
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
228 - Pushing consciousness and selfhood towards their boundaries - An EEG neurophenomenological study
Duration: 2015-02 - 2019-03
Researcher(s):
Joseph Glicksohn, Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
Institution(s): Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan (Israel); Fondazione Patrizio Paoletti, Assisi (Italy)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Progress reports
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Glicksohn, J.
Secondary author(s):
Berkovich-Ohana, A., Ben-Soussan, T.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Consciousness / Self / Perceptual Deprivation / EEG / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2014-228.11
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness
Publication year: 2018
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475/full
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
In recent years, the scientific study of meditation and psychedelic drugs has seen remarkable developments. The increased focus on meditation in cognitive neuroscience has led to a cross-cultural classification of standard meditation styles validated by functional and structural neuroanatomical data. Meanwhile, the renaissance of psychedelic research has shed light on the neurophysiology of altered states of consciousness induced by classical psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, whose effects are mainly mediated by agonism of serotonin receptors. Few attempts have been made at bridging these two domains of inquiry, despite intriguing evidence of overlap between the phenomenology and neurophysiology of meditation practice and psychedelic states. In particular, many contemplative traditions explicitly aim at dissolving the sense of self by eliciting altered states of consciousness through meditation, while classical psychedelics are known to produce significant disruptions of self-consciousness, a phenomenon known as drug-induced ego dissolution. In this article, we discuss available evidence regarding convergences and differences between phenomenological and neurophysiological data on meditation practice and psychedelic drug-induced states, with a particular emphasis on alterations of self-experience. While both meditation and psychedelics may disrupt self-consciousness and underlying neural processes, we emphasize that neither meditation nor psychedelic states can be conceived as simple, uniform categories. Moreover, we suggest that there are important phenomenological differences even between conscious states described as experiences of self-loss. As a result, we propose that self-consciousness may be best construed as a multidimensional construct, and that "self-loss," far from being an unequivocal phenomenon, can take several forms. Indeed, various aspects of self-consciousness, including narrative aspects linked to autobiographical memory, self-related thoughts and mental time travel, and embodied aspects rooted in multisensory processes, may be differently affected by psychedelics and meditation practices. Finally, we consider long-term outcomes of experiences of self-loss induced by meditation and psychedelics on individual traits and prosocial behavior. We call for caution regarding the problematic conflation of temporary states of self-loss with "selflessness" as a behavioral or social trait, although there is preliminary evidence that correlations between short-term experiences of self-loss and long-term trait alterations may exist.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Milličre, R.
Secondary author(s):
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Trautwein, F. M., Berkovich-Ohana, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
99.39|10.95
Reference:
Milličre, R., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Trautwein, F. M., & Berkovich-Ohana, A. (2018). Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology, 9: 1475. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475
Impact Factor: 2.129|2018
Times cited: 257|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Psychedelics / Meditation / Self-consciousness / Consciousness / Bodily self-consciousness / Autobiographical memory / Mind wandering / Mental time travel

Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness

Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness

DocumentSmooth tracking of visual targets distinguishes lucid REM sleep dreaming and waking perception from imagination2018

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-2018
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2018 Grants
Start date: 2019-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-334
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
334 - Inducing lucid dreams with optimized sensory cues
Duration: 2019-03 - 2022-10
Researcher(s):
Benjamin Baird, Giulio Tononi, Stephen LaBerge
Institution(s): Department of Psychiatry, Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness, University of Wisconsin – Madison (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Baird, B.
Secondary author(s):
Tononi, G., LaBerge, S.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Lucid dream / Sensory disconnection / REM sleep / Consciousness / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-334.03
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Smooth tracking of visual targets distinguishes lucid REM sleep dreaming and waking perception from imagination
Publication year: 2018
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05547-0#citeas
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Humans are typically unable to engage in sustained smooth pursuit for imagined objects. However, it is unknown to what extent smooth tracking occurs for visual imagery during REM sleep dreaming. Here we examine smooth pursuit eye movements during tracking of a slow-moving visual target during lucid dreams in REM sleep. Highly similar smooth pursuit tracking was observed during both waking perception and lucid REM sleep dreaming, in contrast to the characteristically saccadic tracking observed during visuomotor imagination. Our findings suggest that, in this respect, the visual imagery that occurs during REM sleep is more similar to perception than imagination. The data also show that the neural circuitry of smooth pursuit can be driven by a visual percept in the absence of retinal stimulation and that specific voluntary shifts in the direction of experienced gaze within REM sleep dreams are accompanied by corresponding rotations of the physical eyes.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
LaBerge, S.
Secondary author(s):
Baird, B., Zimbardo, P. G.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Percentiles:
85.00|1.63
Reference:
LaBerge, S., Baird, B., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2018). Smooth tracking of visual targets distinguishes lucid REM sleep dreaming and waking perception from imagination. Nature Communications, 9: 3298. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05547-0
Impact Factor: 11.878|2018
Times cited: 49|2026-02-11
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Consciousness / Motor control / Perception / REM sleep

Smooth tracking of visual targets distinguishes lucid REM sleep dreaming and waking perception from imagination

Smooth tracking of visual targets distinguishes lucid REM sleep dreaming and waking perception from imagination

DocumentThe spectral exponent of the resting EEG indexes the presence of consciousness during unresponsiveness induced by propofol, xenon, and ketamine2019

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 Ličge (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-81
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
The spectral exponent of the resting EEG indexes the presence of consciousness during unresponsiveness induced by propofol, xenon, and ketamine
Publication year: 2019
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811919300242?via%3Dihub
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Despite the absence of responsiveness during anesthesia, conscious experience may persist. However, reliable, easily acquirable and interpretable neurophysiological markers of the presence of consciousness in unresponsive states are still missing. A promising marker is based on the decay-rate of the power spectral density (PSD) of the resting EEG.
We acquired resting electroencephalogram (EEG) in three groups of healthy participants (n = 5 each), before and during anesthesia induced by either xenon, propofol or ketamine. Dosage of each anesthetic agent was tailored to yield unresponsiveness (Ramsay score = 6). Delayed subjective reports assessed whether conscious experience was present ('Conscious report') or absent/inaccessible to recall ('No Report'). We estimated the decay of the PSD of the resting EEG-after removing oscillatory peaks-via the spectral exponent beta, for a broad band (1-40 Hz) and narrower sub-bands (1-20 Hz, 20-40 Hz). Within-subject anesthetic changes in beta were assessed. Furthermore, based on beta, 'Conscious report' states were discriminated against 'no report' states. Finally, we evaluated the correlation of the resting spectral exponent with a recently proposed index of consciousness, the Perturbational Complexity Index (PCI), derived from a previous TMS-EEG study.
The spectral exponent of the resting EEG discriminated states in which consciousness was present (wakefulness, ketamine) from states where consciousness was reduced or abolished (xenon, propofol). Loss of consciousness substantially decreased the (negative) broad-band spectral exponent in each subject undergoing xenon or propofol anesthesia-indexing an overall steeper PSD decay. Conversely, ketamine displayed an overall PSD decay similar to that of wakefulness-consistent with the preservation of consciousness-yet it showed a flattening of the decay in the high-frequencies (20-40 Hz)-consistent with its specific mechanism of action. The spectral exponent was highly correlated to PCI, corroborating its interpretation as a marker of the presence of consciousness. A steeper PSD of the resting EEG reliably indexed unconsciousness in anesthesia, beyond sheer unresponsiveness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Colombo, M. A.
Secondary author(s):
Napolitani, M., Boly, M., Gosseries, O., Casarotto, S., Rosanova, M., Brichant, J. F., Boveroux, P., Rex, S., Laureys, S., Massimini, M., Chieregato, A., Sarasso, S.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
99.40|8.36
Reference:
Colombo, M. A.., Napolitani, M., Boly, M., Gosseries, O., Casarotto, S., Rosanova, M., Brichant, J. F., Boveroux, P., Rex, S., Laureys, S., Massimini, M., Chieregato, A., & Sarasso, S. (2019). The spectral exponent of the resting EEG indexes the presence of consciousness during unresponsiveness induced by propofol, xenon, and ketamine. NeuroImage, 189, 631-644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.024
Impact Factor: 5.902|2019
Times cited: 212|2026-02-12
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: EEG / Anesthesia / 1/F / NCC / E/I / Consciousness

The spectral exponent of the resting EEG indexes the presence of consciousness during unresponsiveness induced by propofol, xenon, and ketamine

The spectral exponent of the resting EEG indexes the presence of consciousness during unresponsiveness induced by propofol, xenon, and ketamine

DocumentHow hot is the hot zone? Computational modelling clarifies the role of parietal and frontoparietal connectivity during anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness2021

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 Ličge (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-85
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
How hot is the hot zone? Computational modelling clarifies the role of parietal and frontoparietal connectivity during anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness
Publication year: 2021
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381192100118X?via%3Dihub
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
In recent years, specific cortical networks have been proposed to be crucial for sustaining consciousness, including the posterior hot zone and frontoparietal resting state networks (RSN). Here, we computationally evaluate the relative contributions of three RSNs – the default mode network (DMN), the salience network (SAL), and the central executive network (CEN) – to consciousness and its loss during propofol anaesthesia. Specifically, we use dynamic causal modelling (DCM) of 10 min of high-density EEG recordings (N = 10, 4 males) obtained during behavioural responsiveness, unconsciousness and post-anaesthetic recovery to characterise differences in effective connectivity within frontal areas, the posterior ‘hot zone’, frontoparietal connections, and between-RSN connections. We estimate – for the first time – a large DCM model (LAR) of resting EEG, combining the three RSNs into a rich club of interconnectivity. Consistent with the hot zone theory, our findings demonstrate reductions in inter-RSN connectivity in the parietal cortex. Within the DMN itself, the strongest reductions are in feed-forward frontoparietal and parietal connections at the precuneus node. Within the SAL and CEN, loss of consciousness generates small increases in bidirectional connectivity. Using novel DCM leave-one-out cross-validation, we show that the most consistent out-of-sample predictions of the state of consciousness come from a key set of frontoparietal connections. This finding also generalises to unseen data collected during post-anaesthetic recovery. Our findings provide new, computational evidence for the importance of the posterior hot zone in explaining the loss of consciousness, highlighting also the distinct role of frontoparietal connectivity in underpinning conscious responsiveness, and consequently, suggest a dissociation between the mechanisms most prominently associated with explaining the contrast between conscious awareness and unconsciousness, and those maintaining consciousness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Ihalainen, R.
Secondary author(s):
Gosseries, O., de Steen, F. V., Raimondo, F., Panda, R., Bonhomme, V., Marinazzo, D., Bowman, H., Laureys, S., Chennu, S.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
83.45|1.43
Reference:
Ihalainen, R., Gosseries, O., de Steen, F. V., Raimondo, F., Panda, R., Bonhomme, V., Marinazzo, D., Bowman, H., Laureys, S., & Chennu, S. (2021). How hot is the hot zone? Computational modelling clarifies the role of parietal and frontoparietal connectivity during anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness. Neuroimage, 231: 117841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117841
Impact Factor: 6.556|2020
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2021
Times cited: 22|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Anaesthesia / Consciousness / EEG / Effective connectivity / Dynamic causal modelling

How hot is the hot zone? Computational modelling clarifies the role of parietal and frontoparietal connectivity during anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness

How hot is the hot zone? Computational modelling clarifies the role of parietal and frontoparietal connectivity during anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness

DocumentThe development and validation of the SWADOC: A study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study2021

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 Ličge (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-87
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
The development and validation of the SWADOC: A study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study
Publication year: 2021
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Background:
After a coma, patients with severe brain injury may present disorders of consciousness (DOC). A substantial proportion of these patients also suffer from severe dysphagia. Assessment of and therapy for swallowing disabilities of patients with DOC are essential because dysphagia has major functional consequences and comorbidities. Dysphagia evaluation in patients with DOC is impeded by the lack of adapted tools. The first aim of this study was to create a new tool, the SWallowing Assessment in Disorders Of Consciousness (SWADOC), and propose a validation protocol. The SWADOC was developed to help therapists assess factors related to swallowing in patients with DOC. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between patients' level of consciousness and SWADOC items and scores.
Method/Design:
In this multicenter prospective cohort, 104 patients with DOC will be tested three times over five consecutive days with the SWADOC. Statistical analyses will focus on the reliability and validity of the SWADOC, especially the intrarater and interrater reliability, internal consistency, measures of dispersion, and concurrent validity with the Facial Oral Tract Therapy Swallowing Assessment of Saliva (FOTT-SAS). The level of consciousness will be assessed with the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs) and the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R).
Discussion:
The assessment of swallowing abilities among patients with DOC is the first necessary step toward the development of a customized dysphagia care plan. A validated scoring tool will be essential for clinicians to better assess dysphagia in patients with DOC and document the evolution of their disorders.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Mélotte, E.
Secondary author(s):
Belorgeot, M., Herr, R., Simon, J., Kaux, J. F., Laureys, S., Sanz, L., Lagier, A., Morsomme, D., Pellas, F., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
61.80|0.74
Reference:
Mélotte, E., Belorgeot, M., Herr, R., Simon, J., Kaux, J. F., Laureys, S., Sanz, L., Lagier, A., Morsomme, D., Pellas, F., & Gosseries, O. (2021). The development and validation of the SWADOC: A study protocol for a multicenter prospective cohort study. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 662634. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.662634
Impact Factor: 4.003|2020
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2021
Times cited: 12|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Swallowing / Dysphagia / Consciousness / Severe brain injury / Assessment

DocumentTherapies to restore consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries: A gap analysis and future directions2021

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 Ličge (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-89
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 1/Outros Apoios
Title:
Therapies to restore consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries: A gap analysis and future directions
Publication year: 2021
URL:
Visitante: / https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12028-021-01227-y
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE:
For patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) and their families, the search for new therapies has been a source of hope and frustration. Almost all clinical trials in patients with DoC have been limited by small sample sizes, lack of placebo groups, and use of heterogeneous outcome measures. As a result, few therapies have strong evidence to support their use; amantadine is the only therapy recommended by current clinical guidelines, specifcally for patients with DoC caused by severe traumatic brain injury. To foster and advance development of consciousness-promoting therapies for patients with DoC, the Curing Coma Campaign convened a Coma Science Work Group to perform a gap analysis.
METHODS:
We consider fve classes of therapies: (1) pharmacologic; (2) electromagnetic; (3) mechanical; (4) sensory; and (5) regenerative. For each class of therapy, we summarize the state of the science, identify gaps in knowledge, and suggest future directions for therapy development.
RESULTS:
Knowledge gaps in all fve therapeutic classes can be attributed to the lack of: (1) a unifying conceptual framework for evaluating therapeutic mechanisms of action; (2) large-scale randomized controlled trials; and (3) pharmacodynamic biomarkers that measure subclinical therapeutic efects in early-phase trials. To address these gaps, we propose a precision medicine approach in which clinical trials selectively enroll patients based upon their physiological receptivity to targeted therapies, and therapeutic efects are measured by complementary behavioral, neuroimaging, and electrophysiologic endpoints.
CONCLUSIONS:
This personalized approach can be realized through rigorous clinical trial design and international collaboration, both of which will be essential for advancing the development of new therapies and ultimately improving the lives of patients with DoC.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Edlow, B. L.
Secondary author(s):
Sanz, L. R.,, Polizzotto, L., Pouratian, N., Rolston, J. D., Snider, S. B., Thibaut, A., Stevens, R. D., Gosseries, O., Curing Coma Campaign and its contributing members
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
98.68|5.33
Reference:
Edlow, B. L., Sanz, L. R., Polizzotto, L., Pouratian, N., Rolston, J. D., Snider, S. B., Thibaut, A., Stevens, R. D., Gosseries, O., & Curing Coma Campaign and its contributing members (2021). Therapies to restore consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries: A gap analysis and future directions. Neurocritical Care, 35(Suppl 1), 68-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-021-01227-y
Impact Factor: 3.210|2020
Impact factor notes: Impac factor not available yet for 2021
Times cited: 84|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: Coma / Consciousness / Disorders of consciousness / Gap analysis / Precision medicine

Therapies to restore consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries: A gap analysis and future directions

Therapies to restore consciousness in patients with severe brain injuries: A gap analysis and future directions

DocumentPsychophysical interactions with entangled photons: Five exploratory studies2021

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-2016-058
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
058 - Psi, nonlocality and entangled photons
Duration: 2019-09 - 2021-11
Researcher(s):
Dean Radin, Peter Bancel, Arnaud Delorme
Institution(s): Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, California (USA); Institute Metapsychique Internationale, Paris (France)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress Report
Final Report
Articles
Author: Radin, D.
Secondary author(s):
Bancel, P., Delorme, A.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Quantum theory / Physics / Observation / Nonlocality / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-058.02
Location: BG-GMS
Title:
Psychophysical interactions with entangled photons: Five exploratory studies
Publication year: 2021
URL:
Visitante: / https://journals.lub.lu.se/jaex/article/view/23392
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Objective:
Four laboratory studies and an online experiment explored psychophysical (mind-matter) interactions with quantum entangled photons.
Method:
Entanglement correlation strength measured in real-time was presented via a graph or dynamic images displayed on a computer monitor or web browser. Participants were tasked with mentally influencing that metric.
Results:
A statistically significant increase in entanglement strength was obtained in experimental conditions in the four lab studies (p < 0.02), with particularly strong results observed in three studies conducted at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (p < 0.0002). Modest results (p < 0.05) were observed in a high-quality subset of entanglement samples in an online experiment. Control experiments using the same equipment and protocols, but without observers present, showed results consistent with chance expectation in both the lab and online studies.
Conclusion:
These outcomes suggest that the fidelity of entangled states and the nonlocal resource they entail may be mutable in systems that include conscious awareness. This is potentially of interest for quantum information technologies such as quantum computation, encryption, key distribution, and teleportation. The results are also relevant for interpretations of quantum theory, especially if future studies show that entanglement strength can be mentally modulated above the Tsirelson Bound – the upper limit predicted by quantum theory. Such an outcome would suggest that quantum theory in its present form does not hold when physical systems interact with certain mental states. The results of these exploratory experiments justify continued investigation of entangled photons as targets of mind-matter interaction.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Radin, D.
Secondary author(s):
Bancel, P., Delorme, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Radin, D., Bancel, P., & Delorme, A. (2021). Psychophysical interactions with entangled photons: Five exploratory studies. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 1(1-2), 9-54. https://doi.org/10.31156/23392
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Mind-matter interaction / Quantum entanglement / Neutral monism / Consciousness / Psi / Psychokinesis / Quantum information technologies

Psychophysical interactions with entangled photons: Five exploratory studies

Psychophysical interactions with entangled photons: Five exploratory studies

DocumentLucid dreaming occurs in activated rapid eye movement sleep, not a mixture of sleep and wakefulness2022

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-2018
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2018 Grants
Start date: 2019-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-334
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
334 - Inducing lucid dreams with optimized sensory cues
Duration: 2019-03 - 2022-10
Researcher(s):
Benjamin Baird, Giulio Tononi, Stephen LaBerge
Institution(s): Department of Psychiatry, Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness, University of Wisconsin – Madison (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Baird, B.
Secondary author(s):
Tononi, G., LaBerge, S.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Lucid dream / Sensory disconnection / REM sleep / Consciousness / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-334.05
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Lucid dreaming occurs in activated rapid eye movement sleep, not a mixture of sleep and wakefulness
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://academic.oup.com/sleep/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/sleep/zsab294/6528977?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Abstract/Results: Abstract
Study Objectives
(1) To critically test whether a previously reported increase in frontolateral 40 Hz power in lucid REM sleep, used to justify the claim that lucid dreaming is a “hybrid state” mixing sleep and wakefulness, is attributable to the saccadic spike potential (SP) artifact as a corollary of heightened REM density. (2) To replicate the finding that lucid dreams are associated with physiological activation, including heightened eye movement density, during REM sleep. (3) To conduct an exploratory analysis of changes in EEG features during lucid REM sleep
Methods
We analyzed 14 signal-verified lucid dreams (SVLDs) and baseline REM sleep segments from the same REM periods from six participants derived from the Stanford SVLD database. Participants marked lucidity onset with standard left-right-left-right-center (LR2c) eye-movement signals in polysomnography recordings.
Results
Compared to baseline REM sleep, lucid REM sleep had higher REM density (ß = 0.85, p = 0.002). Bayesian analysis supported the null hypothesis of no differences in frontolateral 40 Hz power after removal of the SP artifact (BH = 0.18) and ICA correction (BH = 0.01). Compared to the entire REM sleep period, lucid REM sleep showed small reductions in low-frequency and beta band spectral power as well as increased signal complexity (all p < 0.05), which were within the normal variance of baseline REM sleep.
Conclusions
Lucid dreams are associated with higher-than-average levels of physiological activation during REM sleep, including measures of both subcortical and cortical activation. Increases in 40 Hz power in periorbital channels reflect saccadic and microsaccadic SPs as a result of higher REM density accompanying heightened activation.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
by permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Baird, B.
Secondary author(s):
Tononi, G., LaBerge, S.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Percentiles:
93.90|2.61
Reference:
Baird, B., Tononi, G., & LaBerge, S. (2022). Lucid dreaming occurs in activated rapid eye movement sleep, not a mixture of sleep and wakefulness. Sleep, 45(4), zsab294. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab294
Impact Factor: 5.600|2022
Times cited: 29|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Lucid dreaming / REM sleep / 40 Hz oscillations / Consciousness / Saccadic spike potentials / Lateral rectus spike artifact

Lucid dreaming occurs in activated eye movement sleep, not a mixture of sleep and wakefulness

Lucid dreaming occurs in activated eye movement sleep, not a mixture of sleep and wakefulness

Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning2022

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 Ličge (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-100
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28451-0
Abstract/Results: Consciousness can be defined by two components: arousal (wakefulness) and awareness (subjective experience). However, neurophysiological consciousness metrics able to disentangle between these components have not been reported. Here, we propose an explainable consciousness indicator (ECI) using deep learning to disentangle the components of consciousness. We employ electroencephalographic (EEG) responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation under various conditions, including sleep (n = 6), general anesthesia (n = 16), and severe brain injury (n = 34). We also test our framework using resting-state EEG under general anesthesia (n = 15) and severe brain injury (n = 34). ECI simultaneously quantifies arousal and awareness under physiological, pharmacological, and pathological conditions. Particularly, ketamine-induced anesthesia and rapid eye movement sleep with low arousal and high awareness are clearly distinguished from other states. In addition, parietal regions appear most relevant for quantifying arousal and awareness. This indicator provides insights into the neural correlates of altered states of consciousness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Lee, M.
Secondary author(s):
Sanz, L. R., Barra, A., Wolff, A., Nieminen, J. O., Boly, M., Rosanova, M., Casarotto, S., Bodart, O., Annen, J., Thibaut, A., Panda, R., Bonhomme, V., Massimini, M., Tononi, G., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O., Lee, S.-W.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
98.99|6.74
Reference:
Lee, M., Sanz, L. R., Barra, A., Wolff, A., Nieminen, J. O., Boly, M., Rosanova, M., Casarotto, S., Bodart, O., Annen, J., Thibaut, A., Panda, R., Bonhomme, V., Massimini, M., Tononi, G., Lareys, S., Gosseries, O., & Lee, S.W. (2022). Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1064. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28451-0
Impact Factor: 16.600|2022
Times cited: 78|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Consciousness / Wakefulness / Subjective experience / ECI / EEG

Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning

Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning

DocumentDefining meditation: Foundations for and activity-based phenomenological classification system2022

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-2020-099
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
099 - Beyond "mindfulness" and toward a modern science of meditative mastery and spiritual transformation
Duration: 2021-03 - 2024-02
Researcher(s):
Matthew Sacchet, Diego Pizzagalli, Remko van Lutterveld, Marta Bianciardi
Institution(s): Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research - CDASR, McLean Hospital, Belmont (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Sacchet, M.
Secondary author(s):
Pizzagalli, D., van Lutterveld, R., Bianciardi, M.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Advanced meditation / Enlightenment / Neuroimaging / Mindfulness meditation / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-099.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Defining meditation: Foundations for and activity-based phenomenological classification system
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795077/full
Abstract/Results: Classifying different meditation techniques is essential for the progress of meditation research, as this will enable discerning which effects are associated with which techniques, in addition to supporting the development of increasingly effective and efficient meditation-based training programs and clinical interventions. However, both the task of defining meditation itself, as well as defining specific techniques, faces many fundamental challenges. Here we describe problems involved in this endeavor and suggest an integrated model for defining meditation. For classifying different meditation techniques, we draw on classical, contemporary, and holistic systems of classification. We analyze different techniques and propose that all meditation techniques are based on a specific set of activities, that is: focusing, releasing, imagining, and moving in relation to an object of meditation, including fields of experience. Meditative activities can be combined and unified in the activities of observing, producing, and being aware. All meditative activities are unified in awareness of awareness. Defining specific meditation techniques may be done by specifying which activities and objects are involved. The advantage of our approach is that it can potentially account for the inner workings of all current systems of classification and hence it lays the foundation for formulating an overarching system of meditation that can guide future research and practice.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Sparby, T.
Secondary author(s):
Sacchet, M.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
98.24|5.35
Reference:
Sparby, T., & Sacchet, M. D. (2022). Defining Meditation: Foundations for an Activity-Based Phenomenological Classification System. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 795077. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.795077
Impact Factor: 3.800|2022
Times cited: 51|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Meditation / Classification / Phenomenology / Activity / First-person / Consciousness / Mental activity / Taxonomy

Defining meditation: Foundations for and activity-based phenomenological classification system

Defining meditation: Foundations for and activity-based phenomenological classification system

DocumentLinks between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review2022

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 Ličge (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-103
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Links between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00455-022-10452-2
Abstract/Results: This literature review explores a wide range of themes addressing the links between swallowing and consciousness. Signs of consciousness are historically based on the principle of differentiating reflexive from volitional behaviors. We show that the sequencing of the components of swallowing falls on a continuum of voluntary to reflex behaviors and we describe several types of volitional and non-volitional swallowing tasks. The frequency, speed of initiation of the swallowing reflex, efficacy of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing and coordination between respiration and swallowing are influenced by the level of consciousness during non-pathological modifications of consciousness such as sleep and general anesthesia. In patients with severe brain injury, the level of consciousness is associated with several components related to swallowing, such as the possibility of extubation, risk of pneumonia, type of feeding or components directly related to swallowing such as oral or pharyngeal abnormalities. Based on our theoretical and empirical analysis, the efficacy of the oral phase and the ability to receive exclusive oral feeding seem to be the most robust signs of consciousness related to swallowing in patients with disorders of consciousness. Components of the pharyngeal phase (in terms of abilities of saliva management) and evoked cough may be influenced by consciousness, but further studies are necessary to determine if they constitute signs of consciousness as such or only cortically mediated behaviors. This review also highlights the critical lack of tools and techniques to assess and treat dysphagia in patients with disorders of consciousness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Mélotte, E.
Secondary author(s):
Maudaux, A., Panda, R., Kaux, J.-F., Lagier, A., Herr, R., Belorgeot, M., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
76.57|1.45
Reference:
Mélotte, E., Maudaux, A., Panda, R., Kaux, J.F., Lagier, A., Herr, R., Belorgeot, M, Laureys, S. & Gosseries, O. (2022). Links beteween swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review. Dysphagia, 38(1), 42–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-022-10452-2
Impact Factor: 2.600|2022
Times cited: 12|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Dysphagia / Swallowing / Severe brain injury / Disorders of consciousness / Consciousness / Coma

Links between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review

Links between swallowing and consciousness: A narrative review

DocumentFinal report - How does consciousness work in real life?2022

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-2018
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2018 Grants
Start date: 2019-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-106
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
106 - How does consciousness work in real life?
Duration: 2019-02 - 2022-11
Researcher(s):
Adriŕ Tauste Campo, Rodrigo Quian-Quiroga
Institution(s): Memory Program, Barcelonabeta Brain Research Center, Barcelona (Spain)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Tauste Campo, A.
Secondary author(s):
Quian Quiroga, R.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Concept cells / Neural mechanisms / Human conscious perception / Intracerebral electrodes / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-106.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - How does consciousness work in real life?
Publication year: 2022
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
It takes a fraction of a second to recognize a person or an object even when seen under strikingly different conditions. However, how such a robust, high-level representation is achieved by neurons in the human brain is still unclear. In particular, the way that neurons encode different percepts is one of the most intriguing questions in neuroscience.
AIMS
In this project, we aim to investigate the activity of neural populations in humans during conscious perception tasks involving realistic stimuli. More specifically, we aim to characterize the differences between the brain responses to static and time-varying (and thus more realistic) visual representations of consciously perceived concepts.
METHOD
We designed task paradigms and developed a methodological pipeline based on human intracranial recordings to localize and quantify brain time course responses to consciously perceived stimuli (human faces) of static and dynamic modality.
RESULTS
We found significant brain responses in regions from occipital, temporo-parietal and frontal lobe in 3 subjects, which characterized the visual processing pathway as a function of time during static face recognition. Moreover, we identified a depression of the neural population activity (mostly correlated with high-frequency broadband responses) in regions of the medial temporal lobe when faces were viewed within a dynamic context.
CONCLUSIONS
This work systematizes existing methodology to localize neural population activity measured with intracranial EEG during cognitive tasks and explores the specificities of these neural activations when conscious recognition takes place under a more realistic setting than static object viewing.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Tauste Campo, A.
Secondary author(s):
Quian Quiroga, R.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Tauste Campo, A., & Quian Quiroga, R. (2022). Final report - How does consciousness work in real life?
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Consciousness / Perception / Intracranial recordings / Dynamic stimuli

Final report - How does consciousness work in real life?

Final report - How does consciousness work in real life?

File068 - Can a silent mind know thyself? The role of inner speech in self-awareness2023-032025-09

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-068
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
068 - Can a silent mind know thyself? The role of inner speech in self-awareness
Duration: 2023-03 - 2025-09
Researcher(s):
Bo Yao
Institution(s): Department of Psychology, Lancaster University (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Yao, B.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Inner speech / Self-awareness / Consciousness / Neurophysiology / Psychophysiology

DocumentKnowing the knowing. Non-dual meditative practice from an enactive perspective2022

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-2020-333
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
333 - Mindfulness and psychedelics: A neurophenomenological approach to the characterization of acute and sustained response to DMT in experienced meditators
Duration: 2021-10 - 2024-05
Researcher(s):
Milan Scheidegger, Daniel Meling, Michael Kometer, Dario Dornbierer
Institution(s): Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich (Switzerland); University Medical Center Freiburg (Germany)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Articles
Final report
Language: eng
Author:
Scheidegger, M.
Secondary author(s):
Meling, D., Kometer, M., Dornbierer, D.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Meditation / Psychedelics / Neurophenomenology / Brain imaging / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-333.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Knowing the knowing. Non-dual meditative practice from an enactive perspective
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.778817
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Within a variety of contemplative traditions, non-dual-oriented practices were developed to evoke an experiential shift into a mode of experiencing in which the cognitive structures of self-other and subject–object subside. These practices serve to de-reify the enactment of an observing witness which is usually experienced as separate from the objects of awareness. While several contemplative traditions, such as Zen, Mahamudra, Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta emphasize the importance of such a non-dual insight for the cultivation of genuine wellbeing, only very few attempts in contemplative science have turned toward the study of non-dual-oriented practices. This article starts from a recently developed theoretical cognitive science framework that models the requirements of a temporary experiential shift into a mode of experiencing free from cognitive subject–object structure. This model inspired by the enactive approach contributes theoretically grounded hypotheses for the much-needed rigorous study of non-dual practices and non-dual experiences. To do so, three steps are taken: first, common elements of non-dual-oriented practices are outlined. Second, the main ideas of enactive cognitive science are presented including a principled theoretical model of what is required for a shift to a pure non-dual experience, that is, an experiential mode that is unbound by subject–object duality. Third, this synthesized theoretical model of the requirements for the recognition of the non-dual is then compared with a specific non-dual style of meditation practice, namely, Mahamudra practice from Tibetan Buddhism. This third step represents a heuristic for evaluating the external coherence of the presented model. With this, the aim is to point toward a principled enactive view of non-dual meditative practice. In drawing the implications of the presented model, this article ends with an outlook toward next steps for further developing a research agenda that may fully address the concrete elements of non-dual practices.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Meling, D.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
75.25|1.25
Reference:
Meling, D. (2022). Knowing the knowing. Non-dual meditative practice from an enactive perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 13: 778817. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.778817
Impact Factor: 3.800|2022
Times cited: 13|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Meditation / Non-dual / Enaction / Consciousness / Awareness / Mahamudra / Buddhism / Contemplative science

Knowing the knowing. Non-dual meditative practice from an enactive perspective

Knowing the knowing. Non-dual meditative practice from an enactive perspective

DocumentCessations of consciousness in meditation: Advancing a scientific understanding of nirodha samapatti2023

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-2020-099
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
099 - Beyond "mindfulness" and toward a modern science of meditative mastery and spiritual transformation
Duration: 2021-03 - 2024-02
Researcher(s):
Matthew Sacchet, Diego Pizzagalli, Remko van Lutterveld, Marta Bianciardi
Institution(s): Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research - CDASR, McLean Hospital, Belmont (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Sacchet, M.
Secondary author(s):
Pizzagalli, D., van Lutterveld, R., Bianciardi, M.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Advanced meditation / Enlightenment / Neuroimaging / Mindfulness meditation / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-099.07
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Cessations of consciousness in meditation: Advancing a scientific understanding of nirodha samapatti
Publication year: 2023
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0079612322001984?via%3Dihub
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Absence of consciousness can occur due to a concussion, anesthetization, intoxication, epileptic seizure, or other fainting/syncope episode caused by lack of blood flow to the brain. However, some meditation practitioners also report that it is possible to undergo a total absence of consciousness during meditation, lasting up to 7 days, and that these “cessations” can be consistently induced. One form of extended cessation (i.e., nirodha samapatti) is thought to be different from sleep because practitioners are said to be completely impervious to external stimulation. That is, they cannot be 'woken up' from the cessation state as one might be from a dream. Cessations are also associated with the absence of any time experience or tiredness, and are said to involve a stiff rather than a relaxed body. Emergence from meditation-induced cessations is said to have profound effects on subsequent cognition and experience (e.g., resulting in a sudden sense of clarity, openness, and possibly insights). In this paper, we briefly outline the historical context for cessation events, present preliminary data from two labs, set a research agenda for their study, and provide an initial framework for understanding what meditation induced cessation may reveal about the mind and brain. We conclude by integrating these so-called nirodha and nirodha samapatti experiences—as they are known in classical Buddhism—into current cognitive-neurocomputational and active inference frameworks of meditation.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Copyright/Reproduction:
By permission
Language:
eng
Author:
Laukkonen, R. E.
Secondary author(s):
Sacchet, M. D., Barendregt, H., Devaney, K. J., Chowdhury, A., Slagter, H. A.
Document type:
Book chapter
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Laukkonen, R. E., Sacchet, M. D., Barendregt, H., Devaney, K. J., Chowdhury, A., & Slagter, H. A. (2023). Cessations of consciousness in meditation: Advancing a scientific understanding of nirodha samapatti. Progress in Brain Research, 280, 61–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.12.007
Impact Factor: N/A
Times cited: N/A
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: N/A
Keywords: Consciousness / Meditation / Cessation / Awareness / Active inference / Predictive processing / Nirodha samapatti

DocumentDepth of sedation with dexmedetomidine increases transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential amplitude non-linearly2023

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 Ličge (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-122
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Depth of sedation with dexmedetomidine increases transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential amplitude non-linearly
Publication year: 2023
URL:
Visitante: / https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0007-0912(23)00347-1
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Background: Cortical excitability is higher in unconsciousness than in wakefulness, but it is unclear how this relates to anaesthesia. We investigated cortical excitability in response to dexmedetomidine, the effects of which are not fully known.
Methods: We recorded transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and EEG in frontal and parietal cortex of 20 healthy subjects undergoing dexmedetomidine sedation in four conditions (baseline, light sedation, deep sedation, recovery). We used the first component (0-30 ms) of the TMS-evoked potential (TEP) to measure cortical excitability (amplitude), slope, and positive and negative peak latencies (collectively, TEP indices). We used generalised linear mixed models to test the effect of condition, brain region, and responsiveness on TEP indices.
Results: Compared with baseline, amplitude in the frontal cortex increased by 6.52 µV (P<0.001) in light sedation, 4.55 µV (P=0.003) in deep sedation, and 5.03 µV (P<0.001) in recovery. Amplitude did not change in the parietal cortex. Compared with baseline, slope increased in all conditions (P<0.02) in the frontal but not parietal cortex. The frontal cortex showed 5.73 µV higher amplitude (P<0.001), 0.63 µV ms-1 higher slope (P<0.001), and 2.2 ms shorter negative peak latency (P=0.001) than parietal areas. Interactions between dexmedetomidine and region had effects over amplitude (P=0.004) and slope (P=0.009), with both being higher in light sedation, deep sedation, and recovery compared with baseline.
Conclusions: Transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential amplitude changes non-linearly as a function of depth of sedation by dexmedetomidine, with a region-specific paradoxical increase. Future research should investigate other anaesthetics to elucidate the link between cortical excitability and depth of sedation.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Cardone, P.
Secondary author(s):
Bodart, O., Kirsch, M., Sanfilippo, J., Virgillito, A., Martial, C., Simon, J., Wannez, S., Sanders, R. D., Laureys, S., Vandewalle, G., Bonhomme, V., Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
52.32|0.64
Reference:
Cardone, P., Bodart, O., Kirsch, M., Sanfilippo, J., Virgillito, A., Martial, C., Simon, J., Wannez, S., Sanders, R. D., Laureys, S., Massimini, M., Vandewalle, G., Bonhomme, V., & Gosseries, O. (2023). Depth of sedation with dexmedetomidine increases transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential amplitude non-linearly. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 131(4), 715–725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2023.05.030
Impact Factor: 9.1|2023
Times cited: 3|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Anaesthesia / Consciousness / Dexmedetomidine / Responsiveness / Sedation / Transcranial magnetic stimulation-evoked potential

DocumentUnresponsive but not necessarily unconscious: An introduction to the special focus2023

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-065
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
065 - Unintended returns of awareness during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Duration: 2023-02
Researcher(s):
Charlotte Martial, Pauline Fritz, Alice Clerget
Institution(s): Coma Science Group, University of Ličge (Belgium)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Articles
Language: eng
Notes:
Ongoing project
Author: Martial, C.
Secondary author(s):
Fritz, P., Clerget, A.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Disconnected consciousness / Connected consciousness / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-065.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Unresponsive but not necessarily unconscious: An introduction to the special focus
Publication year: 2023
URL:
Visitante: / https://direct.mit.edu/jocn/article-abstract/35/9/1369/116594/Unresponsive-but-Not-Necessarily-Unconscious-An?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
A growing body of evidence from empirical research reveals that humans may be outwardly unresponsive but still experience episodes of disconnected consciousness (e.g., Martial, Cassol, Laureys, & Gosseries, 2020; Darracq et al., 2018; Sanders, Tononi, Laureys, & Sleigh, 2012). Disconnected consciousness refers to the mental experience of events, in the absence of concurrent awareness of the sensory environment, while in an outwardly unresponsive state (Martial, Cassol, et al., 2020; Sanders et al., 2012). This construct is distinct from everyday examples of internal awareness, such as mental imagery, inner speech, or mind-wandering, because these need to entail either disconnection from the outside world or unresponsiveness. Canonical examples include dreaming during sleep (Baird, Mota-Rolim, & Dresler, 2019; Siclari et al., 2014) or during clinical states, such as general anesthesia or cardiac arrest (Martial, Cassol, et al., 2020; Bonhomme et al., 2019).
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Martial, C.
Secondary author(s):
Gosseries, O.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
0.00|0.00
Reference:
Martial, C., & Gosseries, O. (2023). Unresponsive but not necessarily unconscious: An introduction to the special focus. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 35(9), 1369–1371. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_e_02027
Impact Factor: 3.1|2023
Times cited: 0|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Near-death experience / Consciousness / Meditation

DocumentMethod for quantifying arousal and consciousness in healthy states and severe brain injury via EEG-based measures of corticothalamic physiology2023

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 Ličge (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-126
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Method for quantifying arousal and consciousness in healthy states and severe brain injury via EEG-based measures of corticothalamic physiology
Publication year: 2023
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109958
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Background: Characterization of normal arousal states has been achieved by fitting predictions of corticothalamic neural field theory (NFT) to electroencephalographic (EEG) spectra to yield relevant physiological parameters.
New method: A prior fitting method is extended to distinguish conscious and unconscious states in healthy and brain injured subjects by identifying additional parameters and clusters in parameter space.
Results: Fits of NFT predictions to EEG spectra are used to estimate neurophysiological parameters in healthy and brain injured subjects. Spectra are used from healthy subjects in wake and sleep and from patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, in a minimally conscious state (MCS), and emerged from MCS. Subjects cluster into three groups in parameter space: conscious healthy (wake and REM), sleep, and brain injured. These are distinguished by the difference X-Y between corticocortical (X) and corticothalamic (Y) feedbacks, and by mean neural response rates a and ß to incoming spikes. X-Y tracks consciousness in healthy individuals, with smaller values in wake/REM than sleep, but cannot distinguish between brain injuries. Parameters a and ß differentiate deep sleep from wake/REM and brain injury.
Comparison with existing methods: Other methods typically rely on laborious clinical assessment, manual EEG scoring, or evaluation of measures like F from integrated information theory, for which no efficient method exists. In contrast, the present method can be automated on a personal computer.
Conclusion: The method provides a means to quantify consciousness and arousal in healthy and brain injured subjects, but does not distinguish subtypes of brain injury.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Assadzadeh, S.
Secondary author(s):
Annen, J., Sanz, L., Barra, A., Bonin, E., Thibaut, A., Boly, M., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O., Robinson, P. A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
60.19|0.79
Reference:
Assadzadeh, S., Annen, J., Sanz, L., Barra, A., Bonin, E., Thibaut, A., Boly, M., Laureys, S., Gosseries, O., & Robinson, P. A. (2023). Method for quantifying arousal and consciousness in healthy states and severe brain injury via EEG-based measures of corticothalamic physiology. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 398, 109958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109958
Impact Factor: 2.7|2023
Times cited: 5|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Arousal state / Classification / Consciousness / Electroencephalography / Modeling

Method for quantifying arousal and consciousness in healthy states and severe brain injury via EEG-based measures of corticothalamic physiology

Method for quantifying arousal and consciousness in healthy states and severe brain injury via EEG-based measures of corticothalamic physiology