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DocumentPerturbations in dynamical models of whole-brain activity dissociate between the level and stability 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 Liège (Belgium)
Contents: Application
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Laureys, S.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Parapsychology and Psychophysiology / Near-death experience / Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Reference code: NDE-144
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Perturbations in dynamical models of whole-brain activity dissociate between the level and stability of consciousness
Publication year: 2021
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009139
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Consciousness transiently fades away during deep sleep, more stably under anesthesia, and sometimes permanently due to brain injury. The development of an index to quantify the level of consciousness across these different states is regarded as a key problem both in basic and clinical neuroscience. We argue that this problem is ill-defined since such an index would not exhaust all the relevant information about a given state of consciousness. While the level of consciousness can be taken to describe the actual brain state, a complete characterization should also include its potential behavior against external perturbations. We developed and analyzed whole-brain computational models to show that the stability of conscious states provides information complementary to their similarity to conscious wakefulness. Our work leads to a novel methodological framework to sort out different brain states by their stability and reversibility, and illustrates its usefulness to dissociate between physiological (sleep), pathological (brain-injured patients), and pharmacologically-induced (anesthesia) loss of consciousness.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Sanz, Y.
Secondary author(s):
Pallavicini, C., Pérez, I., Demertzi, A., Bonhomme, V., Martial, C., Panda, R., Annen, J., Ibañez, A., Kringelbach, M., Deco, G., Laufs, H., Sitt, J., Laureys, S., Tagliazucchi, E.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
94.73|2.75
Reference:
Sanz, Y., Pallavicini, C., Pérez, I., Demertzi, A., Bonhomme, V., Martial, C., Panda, R., Annen, J., Ibañez, A., Kringelbach, M., Deco, G., Laufs, H., Sitt, J., Laureys, S., & Tagliazucchi, E. (2021). Perturbations in dynamical models of whole-brain activity dissociate between the level and stability of consciousness. PLoS Computational Biology, 17(7), e1009139. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009139
Impact Factor: 4.779|2021
Times cited: 44|2026-02-13
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Whole-brain activity / Dynamical models / Consciousness / Brain perturbations

Perturbations in dynamical models of whole-brain activity dissociate between the level and stability of consciousness

Perturbations in dynamical models of whole-brain activity dissociate between the level and stability of consciousness
DocumentUnifying turbulent dynamics framework distinguishes different brain states2022

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

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

Reference code: NDE-146
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Unifying turbulent dynamics framework distinguishes different brain states
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03576-6
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Significant advances have been made by identifying the levels of synchrony of the underlying dynamics of a given brain state. This research has demonstrated that non-conscious dynamics tend to be more synchronous than in conscious states, which are more asynchronous. Here we go beyond this dichotomy to demonstrate that different brain states are underpinned by dissociable spatiotemporal dynamics. We investigated human neuroimaging data from different brain states (resting state, meditation, deep sleep and disorders of consciousness after coma). The model-free approach was based on Kuramoto's turbulence framework using coupled oscillators. This was extended by a measure of the information cascade across spatial scales. Complementarily, the model-based approach used exhaustive in silico perturbations of whole-brain models fitted to these measures. This allowed studying of the information encoding capabilities in given brain states. Overall, this framework demonstrates that elements from turbulence theory provide excellent tools for describing and differentiating between brain states.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Escrichs, A.
Secondary author(s):
Perl, Y. S., Uribe, C., Camara, E., Türker, B., Pyatigorskaya, N., López-González, A., Pallavicini, C., Panda, R., Annen, J., Gosseries, O., Laureys, S., Naccache, L., Sitt, J. D., Laufs, H., Tagliazucchi, E., Kringelbach, M. L., Deco, G.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
94.93|3.21
Reference:
Escrichs, A., Perl, Y. S., Uribe, C., Camara, E., Türker, B., Pyatigorskaya, N., López-González, A., Pallavicini, C., Panda, R., Annen, J., Gosseries, O., Laureys, S., Naccache, L., Sitt, J. D., Laufs, H., Tagliazucchi, E., Kringelbach, M. L., & Deco, G. (2022). Unifying turbulent dynamics framework distinguishes different brain states. Communications Biology, 5(1), 638. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03576-6
Impact Factor: 5.9|2022
Times cited: 38|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Brain states / Consciousness / Kuramoto's turbulence framework

Unifying turbulent dynamics framework distinguishes different brain states

Unifying turbulent dynamics framework distinguishes different brain states
DocumentThe Rubber Hand Illusion: Top-down attention modulates embodiment2022

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-2014-118.17
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
The Rubber Hand Illusion: Top-down attention modulates embodiment
Publication year: 2022
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218221078858
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
The Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) creates distortions of body ownership through multimodal integration of somatosensory and visual inputs. This illusion largely rests on bottom-up (automatic multisensory and perceptual integration) mechanisms. However, the relative contribution from top-down factors, such as controlled processes involving attentional regulation, remains unclear. Following previous work that highlights the putative influence of higher-order cognition in the RHI, we aimed to further examine how modulations of working memory load and task instructions—two conditions engaging top-down cognitive processes—influence the experience of the RHI, as indexed by a number of psychometric dimensions. Relying on exploratory factor analysis for assessing this phenomenology within the RHI, our results confirm the influence of higher-order, top-down mental processes. Whereas task instruction strongly modulated embodiment of the rubber hand, cognitive load altered the affective dimension of the RHI. Our findings corroborate that top-down processes shape the phenomenology of the RHI and herald new ways to improve experimental control over the RHI.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Thériault, R.
Secondary author(s):
Landry, M., Raz, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
76.64|1.26
Reference:
Thériault, R., Landry, M., & Raz, A. (2022). The Rubber hand illusion: Top-down attention modulates embodiment. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 75(11), 2129-2148. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218221078858
Impact Factor: 1.7|2022
Times cited: 12|2026-02-15
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: Rubber hand illusion / Top-down cognition / Bottom-up processes / Body ownership / Consciousness / Selfhood

The Rubber Hand Illusion: Top-down attention modulates embodiment

The Rubber Hand Illusion: Top-down attention modulates embodiment
DocumentInvestigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): A geometric eigenmode analysis2025

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-2020-099.21
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Investigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): A geometric eigenmode analysis
Publication year: 2025
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf039
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Advanced meditation has been associated with long- and short-term psychological changes such as bliss, profound insight, and transformation of well-being. However, most advanced meditation neuroimaging analyses have implemented primarily spatially-localized approaches, focusing on discrete regional changes in activity rather than distributed dynamics. The present study uses a geometric eigenmode decomposition of ultrahigh field-strength 7T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from an intensely sampled case study to investigate the complex, distributed cortical dynamics associated with advanced concentrative absorption meditation. Geometric eigenmode decomposition of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and non-meditative control task fMRI data revealed elevated global brain state power and energy patterns of specific advanced concentrative absorption meditation states compared to controls, with mid-frequency spectrum brain state power and energy following a non-random, cubic trajectory through the advanced concentrative absorption meditation sequence. Further, these brain state differences were meaningfully associated with subjective phenomenological reports of attention, intensity of advanced concentrative absorption meditation quality, and sensations. This study unites precise methodological design, a novel fMRI decomposition framework, and rigorous phenomenology to provide valuable insights into the distributed neural signatures of highly refined conscious states. These results underscore similarities and differences between advanced concentrative absorption meditation and other altered states of consciousness like those induced by psychedelics-offering insights into refined conscious states and their implications for health and well-being.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Potash, R. M.
Secondary author(s):
Yang, W. F. Z., Winston, B., Atasoy, S., Kringelbach, M. L., Sparby, T., Sacchet, M. D.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Percentiles:
91.15|3.68
Reference:
Potash, R. M., Yang, W. F. Z., Winston, B., Atasoy, S., Kringelbach, M. L., Sparby, T., & Sacchet, M. D. (2025). Investigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): A geometric eigenmode analysis. Cerebral Cortex, 35(2), bhaf039. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaf039
Impact Factor: 3|2025
Times cited: 7|2026-07-22
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q3
Keywords: 7T fMRI / Advanced meditation / Consciousness / Eigenmode decomposition / Neurophenomenology
DocumentFinal report - A replication project to acquire pragmatically useful information from the future2021

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-2018-281
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
281 - A replication project to acquire pragmatically useful information from the future
Duration: 2019-01 - 2025-04
Researcher(s):
Stephan Schwartz, Randall DeMattei
Institution(s): Atlantic University, Virginia Beach (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress Report
Final Report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Schwartz, S.
Secondary author(s):
DeMattei, R.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Remote Viewing / Consensus methodology / Precognition / Pragmatically useful / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-281.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - A replication project to acquire pragmatically useful information from the future
Publication year: 2021
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Background
This is the continuation of a project begun and run between 1978 and 1991 that focused on the year 2050. It is designed to obtain pragmatically useful information from the future useful for business, social planning, and governance by employing the established Mobius Consensus Protocol. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and its limitations that has dominated the year, the project had to be altered, but was actually expanded, and has now collected the data of 1,117 people, broken into several subpopulations, both rational and nonlocally tasked, and the nonlocal remote viewing population each used one or the other of two different approaches to remote viewing. All of this will be studied and compared.
Aims
In addition to its futurist approach, it will also compare rational compared with nonlocally sourced responses to the same question. It will also now address a range of questions about how nonlocal perception operates.
Method
The concept-by-concept analysis, used by Mobius in its very successful archaeological expeditions, guided by the same consensus protocol.
Results and Conclusions
Although this is early days in any detailed assessment of the 2060 data, a preliminary survey of the data reveals certain notable trends:
• Between 2040 and 2045 several very dramatic changes alter the structure of human culture worldwide. It is not yet clear what they are, but two obvious candidates seem to be climate change and the end of the carbon energy era, which is going to have major technological and geopolitical implications.
• By 2060 these trends have wrought their changes and are seen as in the past. Not a single respondent, for instance, describes cars as powered by gas. This would be consistent with the governmental commitments in Europe, parts of Asia, and North America to eliminate carbon powered vehicles and the increasing focus of automobile and truck manufacturers to make the conversion to non-petroleum powered vehicles.
• Climate change and the associated sea rise has caused the submergence of many coastal cities, and subsequent massive internal and international migrations for which much of the world is notably ill-prepared. In North America there have been huge migrations out of the West because of sea rise, out of the Southwest because of rising temperatures and lack of water, and
out of the Central states because of violent climatic events like tornadoes.
• People have largely re-organized into small communities.
• In the United States, in contrast to the White Supremacy and Male dominance movements so prominent today, racial and gender issues are no longer of importance.
• By 2060 people do not seem to move around as much, although air travel does still exist.
• Lifestyles seem much more minimalist.
• The United States still exists at least in form, but real political power has devolved to states and regions, because of the radically different way in which states have planned for and accommodated for climate change and these migrations.
• In the U.S. the illness profit system of healthcare seems to have given way to universal birthright single payer healthcare, much more like the present European model.
Transactions involving actual cash have disappeared, as have credit cards. Payment is made,
depending on where one is, by a chip in the wrist, or a kind of smartphone.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Schwartz S. A.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Schwartz S. A. (2021). Final report - A replication project to acquire pragmatically useful information from the future.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Consciousness / Remote viewing / Future trends / 2060
DocumentA dream EEG and mentation database2025

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2020 Grants
Start date: 2021-01

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-091.08
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
A dream EEG and mentation database
Publication year: 2025
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61945-1
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Magneto/electroencephalography (M/EEG) studies of dreaming are an essential paradigm in the investigation of neurocognitive processes of human consciousness during sleep, but they are limited by the number of observations that can be collected per study. Dream research also involves substantial methodological and conceptual variability, which poses problems for the integration of results. To address these issues, here we present the DREAM database—an expanding collection of standardized datasets on human sleep M/EEG combined with dream report data—with an initial release comprising 20 datasets, 505 participants, and 2643 awakenings. Each awakening consists, at minimum, of sleep M/EEG ( = 20 s, =100 Hz, =2 electrodes) up to the time of waking and a standardized dream report classi?cation of the subject’s experience during sleep. We observed that reports of conscious experiences can be predicted with objective features extracted from EEG recordings in both Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. We also provide several examples of analyses, showcasing the database’s high potential in paving the way for new research questions at a scale beyond the capacity of any single research group.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Wong, W.
Secondary author(s):
Herzog, R., Andrade, K. C., Andrillon, T., Barros de Araujo, D., Arnulf, I., Ataei, S., Avvenuti, G., Baird, B., Bellesi, M., Bergamo, D., Bernardi, G., Blagrove, M., Decat, N., Demirel, Ç., Dresler, M., Eichenlaub, J.-B., Elce, V., Gais, S., Tsuchiya, N.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Percentiles:
83.17|2.45
Reference:
Wong, W., Herzog, R., Andrade, K. C., Andrillon, T., Barros de Araujo, D., Arnulf, I., Ataei, S., Avvenuti, G., Baird, B., Bellesi, M., Bergamo, D., Bernardi, G., Blagrove, M., Decat, N., Demirel, Ç., Dresler, M., Eichenlaub, J.-B., Elce, V., Gais, S., ... Tsuchiya, N. (2025). A dream EEG and mentation database. Nature Communications, 16, 7495. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61945-1
Impact Factor: 18.1|2025
Times cited: 7|2026-07-22
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Magneto/electroencephalography (M/EEG) / Dream / Consciousness

A dream EEG and mentation database

A dream EEG and mentation database
DocumentHow do faces influence behavior? A proposal for distinguishing between mechanisms that involve cognitive inferences, emotional feelings, and unconscious affective reactions2026

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

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024-422
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
422 - Affect, consciousness, and moral judgments
Duration: 2025-07
Researcher(s):
Piotr Winkielman
Institution(s): Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Language: eng
Notes:
Ongoing project
Author: Winkielman, P.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Emotion / Decision-making / Morality / Consciousness / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2024-422.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
How do faces influence behavior? A proposal for distinguishing between mechanisms that involve cognitive inferences, emotional feelings, and unconscious affective reactions
Publication year: 2026
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-025-00350-9
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Emotional stimuli – such as facial expressions, images, or text – can influence behavior, including important decisions. This influence is complex as these stimuli may engage multiple psychological and physiological processes. The processes encompass (i) perception, attention, and memory, (ii) motor patterns, (iii) central and peripheral circuitry, (iv) subjective feelings, and (v) inferences regarding the stimulus’ meaning. All these processes can shape subsequent behavior. For example, a smile may communicate permission and encouragement to explore. A smile may also lift one’s conscious mood, which, in turn, may serve as a basis for more favorable judgments. However, other mechanisms can operate without involving conscious feelings. In fact, in some studies on facial expressions, researchers observe shifts in attention, perception, and memory, changes in physiology (e.g., amygdala activation, sweating, respiration, heart rate) and behavior (e.g., approach, consumption, risky decisions), without participants reporting any feelings. In other studies, observed changes in behavior are causally unrelated to changes in feelings. In this article, we propose a framework distinguishing informational, feeling-based, and unconscious affective pathways of affective influence. We illustrate our framework with key studies, focusing on the variety of influences by facial expressions.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Zhang, Z.
Secondary author(s):
Winkielman, P.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Zhang, Z., & Winkielman, P. (2026). How do faces influence behavior? A proposal for distinguishing between mechanisms that involve cognitive inferences, emotional feelings, and unconscious affective reactions. Affective Science, 7(1), 74–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-025-00350-9
Impact Factor: 2.8|2025
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2026
Times cited: 0|2026-07-23
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Facial expression / Subjective experience / Feelings / Affective influence / Consciousness

How do faces influence behavior? A proposal for distinguishing between mechanisms that involve cognitive inferences, emotional feelings, and unconscious affective reactions

How do faces influence behavior? A proposal for distinguishing between mechanisms that involve cognitive inferences, emotional feelings, and unconscious affective reactions
DocumentGenomic correlates of self-reported psychic experiences: An exploratory analysis2026

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-2020-108
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
108 - A telephone telepathy study: Does genetic relatedness influence psychic abilities?
Duration: 2021-03 - 2023-09
Researcher(s):
Helané Wahbeh
Institution(s): Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma (USA)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Article
Language: eng
Author:
Wahbeh, H.
Number of reproductions:
2
Keywords:
Telepathy / Intuition / Presentiment / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-108.03
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Genomic correlates of self-reported psychic experiences: An exploratory analysis
Publication year: 2026
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2026.103416
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Background
Psychic experiences are widely reported across cultures, yet their potential biological underpinnings remain poorly understood. Survey research suggests such experience may run in families, raising the possibility of genetic contributions. This study explored associations between genomic variation and self-reported psychic experiences.
Methods
Participants (N = 102) were English-speaking adults with at least one psychic experience and access to direct-to-consumer genetic data. Self-report measures assessed psychic experiences, paranormal beliefs, mental health, and personality. Raw genetic microarray files were standardized, quality-controlled, and analyzed using a Random Forest classifier to distinguish participants with low versus high psychic experience scores. Feature importance was assessed using permutation-based out-of-bag error, with p-values estimated from 200,000 random permutations and corrected using the false discovery rate (FDR).
Results
Participants were predominantly educated Caucasian females from the United States, reporting high paranormal beliefs and moderate levels of psychic experiences. Most first experiences occurred before age 24, and 82% reported family members with similar experiences. Genomic analysis identified 212 single-nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with psychic experience scores (FDR < 0.05). The strongest association was observed for rs10410488, mapping to ARHGEF18, a gene involved in calcium-dependent dendritic growth. Other significant RSIDs mapped to genes implicated in calcium signaling, brain structure, microtubule dynamics, estrogen pathways, and retinoic acid signaling.
Conclusions
This exploratory study identified candidate genetic variants associated with self reported psychic experiences, but these findings should be considered preliminary.”. Future research with larger, more diverse cohorts and refined analytic methods will be essential to clarifying the genetic and neurobiological underpinnings of psychic phenomena.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Wahbeh, H.
Secondary author(s):
Delorme, A., Cannard, C., Rossner, R., Yount, G., Radin, D.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
2
Reference:
Wahbeh, H., Delorme, A., Cannard, C., Rossner, R., Yount, G., & Radin, D. (2026). Genomic correlates of self-reported psychic experiences: An exploratory analysis. Explore, 22(4), 103416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2026.103416
Impact Factor: 2.4|2025
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2026
Times cited: 0|2026-07-23
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q2
Keywords: Psychic experiences / Genetics / Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) / Calcium signaling / Consciousness / Neurobiology / Extraordinary human capacities

Genomic correlates of self-reported psychic experiences: An exploratory analysis

Genomic correlates of self-reported psychic experiences: An exploratory analysis
DocumentFrequency-tagging as a measure of conscious face perception2026

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-2022-050
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
050 - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility
Duration: 2023-11 - 2026-04
Researcher(s):
Adélaïde de Heering, Axel Cleeremans
Institution(s): Center for Research in Cognition and Neuroscience, Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Article
Language: eng
Author:
de Heering, A.
Secondary author(s):
Cleeremans, A.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Electroencephalogram (EEG) / Subliminal / Faces / No-report / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-050.02
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Frequency-tagging as a measure of conscious face perception
Publication year: 2026
URL:
Visitante: / https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2026.03.014
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) from frequency-tagging (FT) paradigms are widely used to investigate visual processing. Yet their association to conscious perception remains unclear. To test whether SSVEP occurs during conscious perception or without consciousness, 32 participants saw sequences of different images presented at 6 Hz (6 images per second) and containing faces every fifth image (1.2 Hz). All images were presented at either 1% contrast or 1.5% contrast. After each sequence, participants had to categorise the face gender (objective perception) and rate their confidence in this categorisation and the visibility of the faces (subjective perception). During the sequence presentation, participants' attention was monitored via an orthogonal fixation-cross task. Results showed that, at 1.5% contrast, the face signal was higher during correct than during incorrect gender categorisation and increased linearly with both visibility and confidence ratings. In line with participants’ performance on the fixation-cross task, the signal collected at 6 Hz also indicated that attention related more closely to confidence than to visibility. At 1% contrast however, no face perception occurred behaviourally, which was confirmed by the absence of brain signal recorded in response to face instances. Overall these findings show that SSVEPs can track both the objective and subjective perception of faces at a conscious contrast (1.5%). These findings bring new evidence that SSVEPs can be used as a marker of conscious perception.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Mazancieux, A.
Secondary author(s):
Cleeremans, A., de Heering, A.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Mazancieux, A., Cleeremans, A., & de Heering, A. (2026). Frequency-tagging as a measure of conscious face perception. Cortex, 199, 94–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2026.03.014
Impact Factor: 3.2|2025
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2026
Times cited: 0|2026-07-23
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Frequency-tagging / Consciousness / Faces / Metacognition / Visibility

Frequency-tagging as a measure of conscious face perception

Frequency-tagging as a measure of conscious face perception
DocumentFinal report - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility2025

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-2022-050
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
050 - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility
Duration: 2023-11 - 2026-04
Researcher(s):
Adélaïde de Heering, Axel Cleeremans
Institution(s): Center for Research in Cognition and Neuroscience, Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Article
Language: eng
Author:
de Heering, A.
Secondary author(s):
Cleeremans, A.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Electroencephalogram (EEG) / Subliminal / Faces / No-report / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-050.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility
Publication year: 2025
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Background & Aims
Inferences about the neural bases of subjective experience often rely on reports that participants express whilst performing a task. However, different studies suggest that reports bias such inferences, contaminating the neural correlates of consciousness. More recently, no-report paradigms have been developed but the involvement of attention in such tasks remains unknown.
Methods
Thirty-two adults were presented with 60 EEG frequency-tagging sequences composed of various images presented at 6 Hz and all degraded to a threshold contrast (1%) or a supraliminal contrast (1.5%). In these sequences, male or female faces were also tagged at the specific frequency of 1.2 Hz. During the sequence presentation, participants were asked to detect the color change of a fixation cross on the images to monitor their attention. At the end of each sequence, participants were instructed to estimate the subjective visibility of the faces using the Perceptual Awareness Scale (PAS), to categorise their gender as a measure of objective visibility, and to assess their confidence in this categorisation as a measure of metacognition.
Results
Mixed-effect models revealed that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the face frequency increased linearly with PAS and confidence. Conversely, the SNR at the image frequency reflecting attentional processes only increased with confidence. This was confirmed by the concurrent attentional task where performance only increased with confidence, but not with PAS.
Conclusions
Overall, we showed that frequency-tagging is sensitive to subjective experience in the absence of reports during the sequence presentation. They also suggest that attentional processes are less involved in subjective visibility than in metacognition.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
de Heering, A.
Secondary author(s):
Cleeremans, A.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
de Heering, A., & Cleeremans, A. (2025). Final report - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Frequency-tagging / Consciousness / Metacognition / Visibility

Final report - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility

Final report - The steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) tool as a marker of subjective visibility
DocumentFinal report - Extended recalled death experiences: "Becoming alive after you are cold and long dead"2026

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-2022-286
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
286 - Extended recalled death experiences: "Becoming alive after you are cold and long dead"
Duration: 2023-09
Researcher(s):
Adrian Parker, Annekatrin Puhle
Institution(s): The Scandinavian International University, Örebro (Sweden); Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg (Sweden)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Language: eng
Notes:
Ongoing project
Author: Parker, A.
Secondary author(s):
Puhle, A.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Conscious awareness / Resuscitation / Near-death experience / Prolonged Recalled Death Experiences (RED) / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-286.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - Extended recalled death experiences: "Becoming alive after you are cold and long dead"
Publication year: 2026
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Background
The time limit for resuscitation attempts is, in most resuscitations from cardiac arrest, set at around 30 minutes. EEGs recorded from the brain cortex generally show flatlines after 10-15 seconds of resuscitation, indicating that consciousness is “degenerated”. Contrastingly, the “Near-death Experiences (NDEs) studies by Parnia and colleagues, along with findings of “apparent veridical perceptions”, support the alternative view that consciousness is being “disinhibited”, which produces an altered state of consciousness. The issue might be partially resolved as the result of the recent advances in resuscitation medicine. These advances primarily concern accidental hypothermic conditions whereby many survivors are resuscitated after extraordinary long periods of circulatory arrest.
Methods
An extensive scoping review of the medical literature and systematic searches of mass media reports from regions with high incidences of hypothermic accidents where there occur longer periods until the return of circulation.
Results & Conclusions
No reports of NDEs were found amongst the peer-reviewed or mass-media publications concerning prolonged cases of accidental or induced hypothermic circulatory arrest. The findings are noteworthy for several reasons. It may be that there are neurological constraints on maintaining conscious activity under these conditions. There may well be reporting and publication biases due to medical staff and patients being reluctant to record and report personal experiences. Medication may also interfere with the memory processes. Alternatively, it may be the case, like many aspects of traumatic experiences, these experiences become recorded as difficult to access as state-specific memories. This latter aspect is compatible with recent work by Parnia and with extant findings relating to the experiences of those 70-90% of those who do not recall NDEs following resuscitation from cardiac arrest.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Parker, A.
Secondary author(s):
Puhle, A.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
3
Indexed document:
No
Keywords: Consciousness / Near-death experience / Recalled experience of death / Cardiac arrest / Hypothermia / ECMO

Final report - Extended recalled death experiences: "Becoming alive after you are cold and long dead"

Final report - Extended recalled death experiences: "Becoming alive after you are cold and long dead"
DocumentFinal report - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences2026

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-2020-041
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
041 - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences
Duration: 2021-12
Researcher(s):
Elisa Ferre
Institution(s): Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Notes:
Ongoing project
Author: Ferrè, E.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Gravity / Floatation tank / Vestibular system / Psychotic-like experiences / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-041.01
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Final report - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences
Publication year: 2026
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT:
Background
Gravity is a constant environmental force that profoundly shapes perception and conscious experience. It is continuously encoded by the vestibular system, which provides the brain’s primary estimate of head orientation and acceleration relative to gravity. This signal is integrated across widespread cortical networks to maintain a stable sense of the body and external world. Disruption of this gravitational prior, such as in spaceflight, has been associated with perceptual distortions, altered body schema, and hallucination-like experiences.
Aims
This programme investigated how gravitational signalling influences conscious experience, with a focus on perceptual organisation, multisensory integration, and the neural mechanisms underlying weightlessness-induced psychotic-like experiences (WIPLEs).
Methods
A multi-method approach was employed. Flotation was used as a ground-based analogue of reduced gravity. Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) was applied to selectively perturb vestibular afferent signalling and probe cortical excitability. Psychophysical paradigms, including a Visually Evoked Auditory Response task, assessed cross-modal illusion susceptibility. Psychophysiological measures (VEMPs and GVS thresholds) indexed vestibular pathway function.
Results
Flotation reliably induced WIPLEs, characterised by vivid sensory experiences including strong vestibular sensations such as spinning, floating, and bodily dissolution. Participants also showed increased susceptibility to cross-modal illusions. In contrast, vestibular pathway measures (VEMPs and GVS thresholds) remained stable pre- and post-flotation, indicating no change in baseline vestibular excitability. A clear dissociation therefore emerged between robust subjective effects and unchanged peripheral and brainstem indices. Disruptive GVS, however, significantly increased illusory perceptual responses, demonstrating a causal role of vestibular perturbation in modulating conscious perception.
Conclusions
Gravity operates as a core perceptual prior that anchors conscious experience. When vestibular input is reduced or perturbed, perception becomes increasingly reliant on internally generated predictions, producing systematic distortions in multisensory integration. The dissociation between stable vestibular physiology and altered experience suggests that WIPLEs arise primarily from higher-order cortical and predictive processes rather than peripheral changes. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding perceptual disturbances in microgravity and have direct implications for our understanding of cognition and sensory stability, on Earth and beyond.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Ferrè, E. R.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Ferrè, E. (2026). Final report - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Gravity / Vestibular system / Consciousness / Microgravity / Body perception

Final report - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences

Final report - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences
DocumentSpace Oddity: Microgravity as a neurocognitive catalyst for transformative consciousness experiences2026

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-2020-041
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
041 - Luminous dancing fairies in weightlessness: How gravity shapes conscious experiences
Duration: 2021-12
Researcher(s):
Elisa Ferre
Institution(s): Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London (UK)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Notes:
Ongoing project
Author: Ferrè, E.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Gravity / Floatation tank / Vestibular system / Psychotic-like experiences / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2020-041.12
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Space Oddity: Microgravity as a neurocognitive catalyst for transformative consciousness experiences
Publication year: 2026
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1769177/abstract
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Human consciousness has evolved under the constant pull of terrestrial gravity, yet its role in shaping perception and awareness has received limited theoretical attention. As spaceflight transitions from short missions to long-duration habitation, understanding how consciousness responds to nonterrestrial gravity becomes increasingly urgent. In this perspective, we synthesise behavioural, neurophysiological and neuroimaging evidence to argue that Earth's gravity functions as a deeply entrenched 1g super-prior within the brain's predictive architecture. This super-prior stabilises multisensory integration and constrains large-scale brain network organisation. Exposure to microgravity disrupts vestibular reliability, destabilising this super-prior and triggering cascades of prediction errors that necessitate widespread recalibration across cortical and subcortical systems. We show that these processes extend beyond sensorimotor adaptation, reshaping conscious experience through altered self-location, emotional regulation and perceptual coherence, and potentially underpinning transformative phenomena. Drawing computational parallels with psychedelic states, we propose that microgravity constitutes a non-pharmacological perturbation that transiently relaxes high-level priors, loosens hierarchical constraints and enhances global integration. By situating consciousness in an environment for which evolution offers no precedent, spaceflight provides a unique experiment for probing the contingent foundations of human awareness and the mechanisms through which consciousness can be transformed.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Nazami, A.
Secondary author(s):
Ferrè, E. R.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Nezami, A., & Ferre, E. R. (2026). Space Oddity: microgravity as a neurocognitive catalyst for transformative consciousness experiences. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1769177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1769177
Impact Factor: 3.8|2025
Impact factor notes: Impact factor not available yet for 2026
Times cited: 0|2026-07-24
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Consciousness / Gravity / Human spaceflight / Neuroplasticity / Psychedelics
DocumentTerminal lucidity. An introduction, some case examples in children, and questions they raise2025

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-2022-129
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
129 - Mapping the characteristics and impacts of terminal lucidity in children
Duration: 2023-10 - 2026-05
Researcher(s):
Natasha Tassell-Matamua, Karalee Kothe, Marjorie Woollacott, Michael Nahm, Sara Gunnoe, Philip Roehrs, Allan Kellehear
Institution(s): School of Psychology, Massey University (New Zealand)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Tassell-Matamua, N. A.
Secondary author(s):
Kothe, K., Woollacott, M. H., Nahm, M., Gunnoe, S., Roehrs, P., Kellehear, A.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Terminal lucidity / Dying / Children / Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2022-129.04
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Terminal lucidity. An introduction, some case examples in children, and questions they raise
Publication year: 2025
URL:
Visitante: / https://www.amazon.com/Banks-River-Styx-Perspectives-Near-Death/dp/1735449199#detailBullets_feature_div
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Tassell-Matamua, N. A.
Secondary author(s):
Kothe, K.
Document type:
Book chapter
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Tassell-Matamua, N. A., & Kothe, K. (2025). Terminal lucidity. An introduction, some case examples in children, and questions they raise. In M. Nahm, M., Woollacott, & N. A. Tassell-Matamua (Eds.), On the banks of the river Styx. New perspectives on terminal lucidity and other near-death phenomena (pp. 6-18). Academy for the Advancement of Postmaterialist Sciences (AAPS).
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Terminal lucidity / Children / End-of-life experiences / Consciousness / Near-death phenomena