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DocumentFeedback modulation of visual processing by limbic circuits: A functional connectivity approach to visual face processing2012

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2006
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pastas 1 a 22 /2006
Title:
2006 Grants
Start date: 2007-01 - 2013-11
Dimension/support:
22 caixas de arquivo

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2006-094
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 21/2006
Title:
094 - Feedback modulation of visual processing by limbic circuits: A functional connectivity approach to visual face processing
Duration: 2008-01 - 2011-02
Researcher(s):
Miguel Castelo-Branco, Cristina Januário, Solange Silva, Aldina Reis, Catarina Mateus, Miguel Cordeiro
Institution(s): IBILI - Faculdade de Medicina, Coimbra (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Bursary agreement
Application form
Correspondence
Financial report and expenditure documents
Progress reports
Final report
Language: eng
Author:
Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Januário, C., Silva, S., Mateus, C., Cordeiro, M.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Cognitive processes / Brain structure and function / Emotion / Body structure and function / Vision

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2006-094.30
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 21/2006
Title:
Feedback modulation of visual processing by limbic circuits: A functional connectivity approach to visual face processing
Publication year: 2012
URL:
http://www.bial.com/imagem/Bial%20Sonhos%20Miolo_Total%20Bolsas.pdf
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVES:
We have examined the specificity of face recognition networks in relation to other object recognition modules in normal subjects. In particular, we addressed a current challenge in cognitive neuroscience by using a novel paradigm that allowed for an explicit separation of the neural correlates of the sensory, perceptual and motor components in holistic perceptual decision.
This strategy, which was anchored on a well defined neurochronometry of cognitive processes helped elucidate the contribution of different regions in the visual stream and insular networks in perceptual decision making. The emergence of holistic percepts occurred in the absence of change in local saliency cues. This allowed for assessing mechanisms of global perceptual awareness irrespective of changes in local sensory evidence.
METHODS:
We used Event Related Potential and fMRI measures and techniques to study response invariance properties of object processing networks, in particular 3D abstract objects and faces were also tested. We have also studied oculomotor responses to emotional faces in normal subjects and Huntington disease (carriers, relative or already with the disease), using calibrated stimuli modified from the FEEST database. Perceptual correlates of holistic object processing in normal subjects and neurodevelopmental conditions were also studied using “Mooney” and hierarchical stimuli. Finally, to separate automatic from conscious aspects of emotional processing of faces, we used a skin conductance (SCR) measurement approach, in relation of online rating of arousal and valence of facial emotions (calibrated in comparison with pictures taken from the International Affective Picture Scale).
RESULTS:
Besides sensory, decision, accumulator and motor processing areas, our study identified hybrid areas in the high-level visual cortex that exhibit traits of both sensory processors and accumulators. We have also found Gamma band neural activity is related to perceptual “Eureka” effects when observing ambiguous dynamic faces/objects. Our data also how a parametric modulation of object-related ERP components by depth range and hence indicate a clear interaction between the depth of 3D object perception and object-related ERP signals across dorsal and ventral streams. Concerning afective processing we have found that duration explains modulations of SCRs better than awareness levels. This suggests that the SCR is not a specific measure for threat detection under unaware conditions but that it is dependent on conscious processing and higher cognitive functions. Finally, our work suggests further links of the episodic memory system to the default network and a differential recruitment of striatal circuits and dependence of hippocampal deactivation on the type of attentional load.
CONCLUSIONS:
We have established a clear and simultaneous separation between sensory, perceptual and motor components in perceptual decision and affective processing .
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Januário, C., Silva, S., Reis, A., Mateus, C., Cordeiro, M.
Document type:
Conference abstract
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Castelo-Branco, M., Januário, C., Silva, S., Reis, A., Mateus, C., & Cordeiro, M. (2012). Feedback modulation of visual processing by limbic circuits: A functional connectivity approach to visual face processing. In Aquém e além do cérebro. Behind and beyond the brain. Proceedings of the 9th Symposium of Fundação Bial (pp. 7-8/63). Porto: Fundação Bial.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Object processing / Face recognition / Perceptual decision / Emotion / Lymbic system

Feedback modulation of visual processing by limbic circuits: A functional connectivity approach to visual face processing

Feedback modulation of visual processing by limbic circuits: A functional connectivity approach to visual face processing
DocumentPerceptual decision making2015

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012
Location: SEC PCA
Title:
2012 Grants
Start date: 2013-02

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-132
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 11/2012
Title:
132 - A direct test of the binding by synchrony hypothesis in humans: the neural correlates of coherent object perception
Duration: 2013-11 - 2016-01
Researcher(s):
Miguel Castelo-Branco, Maria Ribeiro, João Duarte, Gabriel Costa
Institution(s): IBILI, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Progress reports
Final report
Article
Language: eng
Author:
Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Ribeiro, M., Duarte, J., Costa, G.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Psychophysiology / Cognitive processes / Perception / Brain structure and function

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2012-132.10
Location: Arquivo PCA - Pasta 11/2012
Title:
Perceptual decision making
Publication year: 2015
URL:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012397025100261X
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
An exciting area in cognitive neuroscience concerns the investigation of neural mechanisms underlying the emergence of visual perceptual representations. Multistable interpretations of the visual world are striking phenomena that may occur when the retinal image is compatible with multiple perceptual solutions. This occurs even when the physical pattern of retinal stimulation remains constant. Perceptual decision making is thus defined by the choice of an interpretation among a set of potentially ambiguous alternatives based on peripheral sensory evidence. We discuss current multimodal approaches to investigate the neural correlates of competition between multistable alternative neural representations and the generation of antagonistic perceptual interpretations.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Castelhano, J.
Document type:
Book chapter
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Castelo-Branco, M., & Castelhano, J. (2015). Perceptual decision making. In A. Toga (Ed.), Brain Mapping: An Encyclopedic Reference (Vol. 3, pp. 401–408). Academic Press
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Binocular rivalry / Choice behavior / Contextual effects / Decision models / Figure–ground segregation / Motion perception / Multistability / Perceptual ambiguity / Perceptual decision / Sensory adaptation / Simultaneous EEG/fMRI / Winner-take-all models
File207 - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making2017-112019-10

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-207
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
207 - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making
Duration: 2017-11 - 2019-10
Researcher(s):
Miguel Castelo-Branco, João Duarte, Ricardo Martins, Teresa Sousa, Gabriel Costa
Institution(s): Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health - ICNAS, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final Report
Articles
Author: Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Duarte, J., Martins, R., Sousa, T., Costa, G.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Adaptation / Neuroimaging / Perceptual decision / Electroencephalogram (EEG) / Psychophysiology
DocumentEvidence for distinct levels of neural adaptation to both coherent and incoherently moving visual surfaces in visual area hMT+2018

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-207
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
207 - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making
Duration: 2017-11 - 2019-10
Researcher(s):
Miguel Castelo-Branco, João Duarte, Ricardo Martins, Teresa Sousa, Gabriel Costa
Institution(s): Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health - ICNAS, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final Report
Articles
Author: Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Duarte, J., Martins, R., Sousa, T., Costa, G.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Adaptation / Neuroimaging / Perceptual decision / Electroencephalogram (EEG) / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-207.03
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Evidence for distinct levels of neural adaptation to both coherent and incoherently moving visual surfaces in visual area hMT+
Publication year: 2018
URL:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811918305822?via%3Dihub
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Visual adaptation describes the processes by which the visual system alters its operating properties in response to changes in the environment. It is one of the mechanisms controlling visual perceptual bistability – when two perceptual solutions are available – by controlling the duration of each percept. Moving plaids are an example of such ambiguity. They can be perceived as two surfaces sliding incoherently over each other or as a single coherent surface.
Here, we investigated, using fMRI, whether activity in the human motion complex (hMT+), a region tightly related to the perceptual integration of visual motion, is modulated by distinct forms of visual adaptation to coherent or incoherent perception of moving plaids. Our hypothesis is that exposure to global coherent or incoherent moving stimuli leads to different levels of measurable adaptation, reflected in hMT+ activity. We found that the strength of the measured visual adaptation effect depended on whether subjects integrated (coherent percept) or segregated (incoherent percept) surface motion signals.
Visual motion adaptation was significant both for coherent motion and globally incoherent surface motion. Although not as strong as to the coherent percept, visual adaptation due to the incoherent percept also affects hMT+. This shows that adaptation can contribute to regulate percept duration during visual bistability, with distinct weights, depending on the type of percept. Our findings suggest a link between bistability and adaptation mechanisms, both due to coherent and incoherent motion percepts, but in an asymmetric manner. These asymmetric adaptation weights have strong implications in models of perceptual decision and may explain asymmetry of perceptual interpretation periods.
Accessibility: Document does not exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Sousa, T.
Secondary author(s):
Sayal, A., Duarte, J. V., Costa, G., Martins, R., Castelo-Branco, M.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Sousa, T., Sayal, A., Duarte, J. V., Costa, G., Martins, R., Castelo-Branco, M. (2018). Evidence for distinct levels of neural adaptation to both coherent and incoherently moving visual surfaces in visual area hMT+. NeuroImage, 179, 540-547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.06.075
2-year Impact Factor: 5.812|2018
Times cited: 5|2025-09-17
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Bistable visual motion / Perceptual decision / Adaptation / Plaids / hMT+
DocumentFinal report - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making2019

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2016 Grants
Start date: 2017-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-207
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
207 - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making
Duration: 2017-11 - 2019-10
Researcher(s):
Miguel Castelo-Branco, João Duarte, Ricardo Martins, Teresa Sousa, Gabriel Costa
Institution(s): Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health - ICNAS, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final Report
Articles
Author: Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Duarte, J., Martins, R., Sousa, T., Costa, G.
Number of reproductions:
1
Keywords:
Adaptation / Neuroimaging / Perceptual decision / Electroencephalogram (EEG) / Psychophysiology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2016-207.01
Title: Final report - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making
Publication year: 2019
Abstract/Results:
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Studying the human brain response to shifts in perception provides an insight on the neuronal processes which underlie perceptual decision. Visual ambiguous stimuli are a powerful tool to investigate such processes, since perception varies over time despite the physically unchanging properties of stimuli.
A classic example of an ambiguous visual stimulus is when two moving gratings are superimposed to form a plaid. The perception of a moving plaid switches back and forth between two interpretations: it can be perceived as a single surface with coherent motion or as two surfaces sliding one over the other (incoherent motion). It has been suggested that this phenomenon arises from competition between opposing percepts, which might be influenced by mechanisms such as neuronal adaptation, inhibition, and memory. Current perceptual stability models consider bistable perception as a result of the interaction between these mechanisms, but the relative contribution of each one is still under debate.
METHODS
Here, using fMRI, EEG and behavioral approaches, we explore how each of these contributes to perceptual decision during bistable visual perception of moving plaids, taking into account the possible interaction between them. We hypothesized that the crucial role of adaptation in perceptual bistability arises from its influence on other mechanisms, such as perceptual persistence (a special form of short term visual memory) and inhibition.
Based on a set of three experiments, we first tested for distinct levels of adaptation during visual motion perceptual bistability. Then, we investigated how such adaptation competes with persistence to influence perceptual experience. Finally, we tested whether cross-inhibitory effects occur between bistable percepts of a moving plaid, elicited by adaptation.
RESULTS
We found that adaptation can contribute to regulating percept duration during visual bistability, with distinct weights, depending on the type of percept. Our results provide further evidence for continuous competition between adaptation and persistence, the first leading to negative and the second to positive hysteresis, with a relevant role for perceptual experience. Finally, we demonstrated, both at the behavioral and neuronal level, that inhibition across neural populations plays a key role in the disambiguation of moving plaids.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, our findings add to the understanding of how the visual system achieves perceptual decisions based on interactions between low and high-level neuronal mechanisms, one based on adaptation and the second on short-term visual memory (persistence).
Accessibility: Document exist in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Duarte, J., Martins, R., Sousa, T., Costa, G.
Document type:
Final report
Number of reproductions:
1
Reference:
Castelo-Branco, M., Duarte, J., Martins, R., Sousa, T., & Costa, G. (2019). Final report - The role of motion adaptation in bottom-up mechanisms of perceptual decision-making.
Indexed document: No
Keywords: Adaptation / Short-term memory / Ambiguous visual motion / Perceptual bistability / Perceptual decision / Visual motion integration / fMRI
DocumentIdentification of competing neural mechanisms underlying positive and negative perceptual hysteresis in the human visual system2020

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

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

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
2018 Grants
Start date: 2019-01

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-252
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
252 - Spiritual states induced by ayahuasca, and the involvement of the reward system
Duration: 2019-10 - 2022-09
Researcher(s):
Miguel Castelo-Branco, Gisela Lima, Miguel Raimundo, Pedro Fonseca, Carla Cavaleiro, Lorena Petrella, Célia Cabral, Antero Abrunhosa
Institution(s): Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health - ICNAS, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Contents: Contents:
Application form
Correspondence
Research Funding Agreement
Progress report
Final report
Articles
Language: eng
Author:
Castelo-Branco, M.
Secondary author(s):
Lima, G., Raimundo, M., Fonseca, P., Cavaleiro, C., Petrella, L., Cabral, C., Abrunhosa, A.
Number of reproductions:
3
Keywords:
Ayahuasca / Dopamine and reward / Spiritual experience / Hallucinations / Psychophysiology and Parapsychology

Reference code: PT/FB/BL-2018-252.04
Location: BF-GMS
Title:
Identification of competing neural mechanisms underlying positive and negative perceptual hysteresis in the human visual system
Publication year: 2020
URL:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381192030639X
Abstract/Results: ABSTRACT:
Hysteresis is a well-known phenomenon in physics that relates changes in a system with its prior history. It is also part of human visual experience (perceptual hysteresis), and two different neural mechanisms might explain it: persistence (a cause of positive hysteresis), which forces to keep a current percept for longer, and adaptation (a cause of negative hysteresis), which in turn favors the switch to a competing percept early on. In this study, we explore the neural correlates underlying these mechanisms and the hypothesis of their competitive balance, by combining behavioral assessment with fMRI. We used machine learning on the behavioral data to distinguish between positive and negative hysteresis, and discovered a neural correlate of persistence at a core region of the ventral attention network, the anterior insula. Our results add to the understanding of perceptual multistability and reveal a possible mechanistic explanation for the regulation of different forms of perceptual hysteresis.
Accessibility: Document exists in file
Language:
eng
Author:
Sayal, A.
Secondary author(s):
Sousa, T., Duarte, J. V., Costa, G. N., Martins, R., Castelo-Branco, M.
Document type:
Article
Number of reproductions:
3
Reference:
Sayal, A., Sousa, T., Duarte, J. V., Costa, G. N., Martins, R., & Castelo-Branco, M. (2020). Identification of competing neural mechanisms underlying positive and negative perceptual hysteresis in the human visual system. Neuroimage, 221: 117153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117153
2-year Impact Factor: 6.556|2020
Times cited: 15|2025-09-20
Indexed document: Yes
Quartile: Q1
Keywords: Perceptual decision / Hysteresis / Perceptual history / Bistable visual motion

Identification of competing neural mechanisms underlying positive and negative perceptual hysteresis in the human visual system

Identification of competing neural mechanisms underlying positive and negative perceptual hysteresis in the human visual system