A study involving 48 preschool children found that brief digital or traditional gameplay improved performance on tasks requiring quick responses, but reduced performance on tasks demanding greater concentration and self-control. The study suggests that these play sessions temporarily enhance automatic attentional processes at the expen...
Researchers identified subtle brain differences in children at increased risk of schizophrenia, even before symptoms emerge. The study suggests that early screening and personalized intervention strategies can help detect the disorder's progression.
The Bial Foundation offers funding of up to €60,000 for research on human health in physical and spiritual dimensions. The programme promotes research excellence with a global network of 1,900 researchers.
Research shows men and women exhibit similar performance in multitasking ability, except for conversational tasks where men ignore conversation more often. This difference influences how others perceive their performance, contributing to the persistence of the stereotype.
A recent study found that exposure to their own reflection in 4-month-old infants enhanced neural processing of others' facial actions but did not increase facial mimicry. The results suggest that simple experiences like seeing one's own reflection can shape the social brain from an early age.
The Bial Foundation is launching a new call for Grants for Scientific Research 2026/2027 in psychophysiology and parapsychology. The maximum grant amount is €60,000 per project, with applications open until 31 August 2026.
Researchers found that a deaf person's brain can reorganize sensory systems through selective deactivation, not just increased activation. The auditory cortex in deaf individuals responds to visual stimuli with organized deactivations, representing visual spatial features.
Near-death experiences challenge the scientific understanding of consciousness by reporting vivid and structured events during moments of extreme physiological failure. Charlotte Martial's research suggests these experiences may correspond to natural mental states serving an adaptive function in extreme situations.
Christof Koch argues that classical metaphysical frameworks like idealism and panpsychism should be reconsidered due to current scientific methods. He advocates for Integrated Information Theory, which posits that any system with high integrated information possesses subjective experience.
A study in Science reveals that a healthy gut microbiota enhances immunotherapy's efficacy against cancer, while antibiotics reduce diversity and may impair treatment. Analysis found specific bacterial species associated with better clinical outcomes.
The Bial Award in Biomedicine 2025 will announce its winner on February 24, 2026, with a €350,000 prize. The award recognizes outstanding biomedical discoveries published within the last 10 years.
A study found that witnessing terminal lucidity in children is a profoundly spiritual experience, influencing caregivers' belief systems and sparking personal growth. Caregivers reported disclosing what they witnessed to others, receiving mixed reactions from healthcare professionals and colleagues.
The symposium brings together researchers to discuss end-of-life experiences, exploring biological processes, cultural interpretations, and spiritual approaches. It features lectures by prominent international experts, including Christof Koch, Michael Rera, Daniel Kondziella, and Jim Tucker.
Research finds that musical improvisation involves a dynamic reconfiguration of the brain between emotion, technique, and structure. The study proposes a scalable method for exploring the neural basis of spontaneous creative behavior, highlighting the importance of interaction between networks over time.
A new study has compiled records of brain activity during sleep and dream reports, revealing that dreams occur not only during REM sleep but also during deeper and calmer NREM stages. In these cases, brain activity resembles wakefulness more than deep sleep.
Research found higher fetal movement frequencies correlate with greater maternal attachment; paying attention to these signals may strengthen prenatal attachment and postnatal caregiving. Fetal movements contribute to emotional attachment formed during pregnancy.
A study analyzing acute and chronic stress on rat brains reveals distinct effects on mental health. Acute stress triggers anxiety-like behaviors, primarily in males, whereas chronic stress is linked to depressive symptoms.
Researchers found a high prevalence of mental disorder symptoms among adults who claim past-life memories, with religiosity and spirituality being protective factors. Childhood phobias were associated with lower happiness and more symptoms of mental disorders.
A study found that stronger illusory health beliefs are associated with greater distrust in conventional medicine and a higher tendency to seek unvalidated therapies. Valuing science and personal control over health can reduce this pattern, leading to more informed decisions and trust in health professionals.
A recent study found that the perception of being responsible for one's actions and their consequences decreases when individuals follow orders, affecting both civilians and military personnel. The study used fMRI scans to analyze brain activity while participants made moral decisions with varying degrees of freedom.
The BIAL Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 4th edition of its international award, recognizing exceptional work in biomedical research published within the last decade. Nominations are open until June 30, with a significant increase in prize amount to €350,000.
Researchers discovered that D1 and D2 neurons in the brain work together to process appetitive and aversive stimuli, with D2 neurons playing a key role in extinguishing negative associations. This understanding can help develop new treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
The BIAL Award in Biomedicine 2025 boasts a €350,000 prize amount, recognizing outstanding biomedical research with significant clinical impact. The award's unique criteria and altruistic nature have contributed to its growing reputation as a prelude to the Nobel Prize.
Researchers investigated how individuals with anorexia and eating disorders perceive body weight, finding they underestimate the weight of smaller hands and overestimate the weight of larger hands. This study suggests two different mechanisms for weight perception in body parts versus objects.
The BIAL Award in Biomedicine is a prestigious international award that recognises outstanding biomedical research. The €300,000 prize is given to researchers whose work has shown exceptional quality and scientific relevance, published within the last ten years.
A study of 232 healthy adults found that hypnosis and mindfulness meditation reduced pain intensity and tolerance, while prayer did not. The results suggest that brief sessions of these techniques may be useful for acute pain self-management.
Researchers found that state gratitude predicts lower systolic blood pressure responses throughout the stress-testing period, indicating a unique stress-buffering effect. Affect balance amplifies the effects of state gratitude, suggesting its clinical utility in improving cardiovascular health.
Researchers found no correlation between daily mood and confidence markers, but mood-related states and confidence level fluctuated at different time scales. Mood changes occurred faster than confidence level changes.
Despite previous assumptions, researchers found no correlation between highly superior autobiographical memory and enhanced creative thinking. Instead, they suggest that these individuals may be overly focused on consolidating autobiographical events, potentially hindering creative processes.
The 20th edition of the Prémio BIAL de Medicina Clínica seeks innovative clinical research with high quality and relevance. The €100,000 award will recognize the best work on clinical practice.
The BIAL Foundation's new call for grants increases the maximum support amount to €60,000 per project. The program supports research in Psychophysiology and Parapsychology, building on a history of funding over 1600 researchers from 29 countries.