Whenever we look at the world in front of us, light falls onto our retina and is processed in a series of steps in the brain. The primary visual cortex is the first stage in the cerebral cortex, where visual information is processed. Nevertheless, neurons here do not only respond to patterns of light, but to sounds as well. A major question in the field, however, has been whether these responses truly represent auditory information, or are instead modulations due to body movements elicited by the sounds.

Slated to begin recruiting patients in 2025, the PsyPal study represents a significant step in exploring innovative treatments for deep psychological and existential distress in those with advanced illnesses. The CF, alongside three other European clinical sites, will treat over one hundred patients, each site focusing on a different condition.

The ERC Proof of Concept Grant is awarded exclusively to Principal Investigators who have previously won an ERC grant. Its primary goal is to support the commercial and social innovation potential of ERC-funded research. “It takes courage and skill to take an idea from the lab into the world of business. The Proof of Concept grants announced today are designed to enable researchers to take this brave step and transform groundbreaking research into tangible innovations”, remarked Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

“HALLO,” Robin typed on the keyboard.
“HALLO, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?” replied ELIZA, the printed words appearing instantly on the VDU [computer screen]. 
“I’M FEELING TERRIBLE,” Robin replied. 
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT PRECISELY?” 
“I’M FEELING DEPRESSED.” 
“WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DEPRESSED?”
“BECAUSE I’M LONELY.” 
“DO YOU LIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY?”
“NO.”
“DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS?” 
“NOT REALLY.” 
“WHY IS THAT?”

Imagine you’re teaching a dog to play fetch. You throw a ball, and your dog sprints after it, picks it up, and runs back. You then reward your panting pup with a treat.

“Descending with his brother from the summit of Nanga Parbat, one of the ten highest mountains in the world, [Italian mountaineer] Reinhold Messner felt a third climber ‘descending with us, keeping a regular distance, a little to my right and a few steps away from me, just outside my field of vision’. Messner ‘could not see the figure’ but ‘was certain there was someone there,’ sensing ‘his presence’.

Launched during the European Vaccination Week in April 2021, the campaign was a collaborative effort between COLife, an alliance of six life sciences research institutions in the region of Lisbon and Oeiras, i3S in Porto, the Portuguese Society of Immunology (SPI), and Ciência Viva - the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture. Over a span of ten days, 121 scientists from various Portuguese institutions engaged in around 400 sessions, reaching audiences from all corners of Portugal and even extending digital outreach to East Timor and São Tomé and Príncipe.

For this edition of the contest, 11 groundbreaking biomedical and health projects spearheaded by research institutions and universities in Portugal were selected. This funding underscores the commitment of the “la Caixa” Foundation to champion projects of unparalleled excellence that stand to significantly benefit public health.

Listed below is more information about the seven awardees from the four COLife institutes and their projects.

If a teacup is steaming, you’ll wait a bit longer before drinking from it. And if your fingers get caught in the door, you'll be more careful next time. These are forms of associative learning, where a positive or negative experience leads to learning behavior. We know that our cerebellum is important in this form of learning. But how exactly does this work?

On November 16th, World Pancreatic Cancer Day aims to raise awareness of this deadly disease, with the ultimate goal of improving survival rates and reducing the risks of pancreatic cancer globally.