Ayahuasca-induced personal death subjective experiences

Researchers analysed studies on self-reported experiences related to the sensation of death during ayahuasca ceremonies.

Could we have psi abilities if our brains didn't inhibit them?

Research tests a novel neurobiological model and concludes that the frontal lobes of the brain act as a filter to inhibit humans' innate psi abilities.

The impact of after-death communication in bereavement

A study with 70 participants who experienced after-death communication with deceased partners reveals that the majority found it comforting and helpful in their bereavement.

How does postingestive reward shape our choices?

Postingestive processes, which refer to the physiological and behavioural responses occurring after food intake, are crucial for regulating eating behaviour, influencing both the sensation of satiety and food preferences. The research team led by Albino Oliveira Maia investigated the impact of these processes on three distinct groups: healthy individuals, people with obesity, and post-bariatric surgery patients. Specifically, the study explored whether these effects occur through implicit (non-conscious) mechanisms and how the availability of dopamine D2 receptors in the brain is related to these processes. Using the flavour-nutrient conditioning (FNC) method, where the flavour of yogurt enriched with maltodextrin was associated with increased caloric content, it was observed that food preferences were influenced primarily through implicit consumption decisions rather than explicit assessments of flavour pleasantness ratings. In other words, the study demonstrated that FNC affected food choices without participants being consciously aware that they were preferring foods due to their association with nutritional value. This shift was observed in healthy individuals, people with obesity, and post-bariatric patients. Furthermore, people with obesity showed lower availability of dopamine D2 receptors, crucial in the brain's reward system. After bariatric surgery, particularly gastric bypass, there was an increase in receptor availability, which may be linked to improved feeding behavior regulation. These findings suggest that changes in the reward system may play a role in the surgery's effectiveness in reducing weight and modifying eating behaviours. This study was supported by the BIAL Foundation, in the scope of the research project 176/10 - Dopaminergic regulation of dietary learning in humans and rodents, and published in the journal PLOS BIOLOGY, in the article Postingestive reward acts through behavioral reinforcement and is conserved in obesity and after bariatric surgery.

Maria de Sousa Award 5th edition - 2025: applications are open

Applications are now open for the Maria de Sousa Award 5th edition - 2025, promoted by the Portuguese Medical Association and the BIAL Foundation to honour the physician and great researcher Maria de Sousa. The deadline for applications is 31 May.

The BIAL Foundation has received 432 applications for the Grants Programme for Scientific Research

Did you know that the BIAL Foundation received 432 applications from 29 countries for the Grants Programme for Scientific Research 2024/2025, and 80 were approved?