Paradeisios Alexandros Boulakis
@parboulakis.bsky.social
he / him / himbo
researcher at gigaphysiologycognition.uliege.be
mind-blanking, spontaneous thinking, brain-body interactions
dnd, cozy fantasy, freddo espresso and cookies
researcher at gigaphysiologycognition.uliege.be
mind-blanking, spontaneous thinking, brain-body interactions
dnd, cozy fantasy, freddo espresso and cookies
I would also like to thank @physiocognition.bsky.social, @giga-crc-hi.bsky.social @universitedeliege.bsky.social and FRS-FNRS (www.frs-fnrs.be) for funding and supporting my research.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
I would also like to thank @physiocognition.bsky.social, @giga-crc-hi.bsky.social @universitedeliege.bsky.social and FRS-FNRS (www.frs-fnrs.be) for funding and supporting my research.
This was a deeply collaborative work, and as such I would like to express my thanks to supervisor @ademertzi.bsky.social and my collaborators for this project @thomasandrillon.bsky.social @naotsuchiya.bsky.social @anikokusztor.bsky.social.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This was a deeply collaborative work, and as such I would like to express my thanks to supervisor @ademertzi.bsky.social and my collaborators for this project @thomasandrillon.bsky.social @naotsuchiya.bsky.social @anikokusztor.bsky.social.
Our findings build on the quest to bridge mental content and its absence with measurable brain activity and provide insights into how ongoing thinking is maintained during wakefulness.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Our findings build on the quest to bridge mental content and its absence with measurable brain activity and provide insights into how ongoing thinking is maintained during wakefulness.
Together, where do we stand with these findings? 🤔
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types (as recently hypothesised in Andrillon, 2025 🤯)!
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types (as recently hypothesised in Andrillon, 2025 🤯)!
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Together, where do we stand with these findings? 🤔
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types (as recently hypothesised in Andrillon, 2025 🤯)!
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types (as recently hypothesised in Andrillon, 2025 🤯)!
5) Finally, a Canonical Correlations Analysis between EEG SW-like activity and fMRI connectivity patterns showed that larger SW amplitude and steeper downslope correlated with the hyperconnected brain pattern.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
5) Finally, a Canonical Correlations Analysis between EEG SW-like activity and fMRI connectivity patterns showed that larger SW amplitude and steeper downslope correlated with the hyperconnected brain pattern.
4) Here is the catch: the brain organised similar to the “rich” P1 during MB and alertness reports. BUT, during low vigilance, the brain resembled the overconnected P5. Critically, the brain resembled P5 during MB too, but only when participants reported being alert.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
4) Here is the catch: the brain organised similar to the “rich” P1 during MB and alertness reports. BUT, during low vigilance, the brain resembled the overconnected P5. Critically, the brain resembled P5 during MB too, but only when participants reported being alert.
3) Using K-Means clustering, we found that time-varying functional connectivity could be summarised in five connectivity patterns. These varied from patterns of anticorrelations (P1-3) to patterns with weak synchronization (P4) and overall global synchronization (P5).
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
3) Using K-Means clustering, we found that time-varying functional connectivity could be summarised in five connectivity patterns. These varied from patterns of anticorrelations (P1-3) to patterns with weak synchronization (P4) and overall global synchronization (P5).
2) When we examined the fMRI global signal (GS) amplitude, a proxy for cortical arousal, both MB and low vigilance were associated with higher GS amplitude, as in Mortaheb 2022.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
2) When we examined the fMRI global signal (GS) amplitude, a proxy for cortical arousal, both MB and low vigilance were associated with higher GS amplitude, as in Mortaheb 2022.
We found:
1) while MB occurred infrequently, the probability of reporting MB increased when participants reported sleepiness.
1) while MB occurred infrequently, the probability of reporting MB increased when participants reported sleepiness.
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
We found:
1) while MB occurred infrequently, the probability of reporting MB increased when participants reported sleepiness.
1) while MB occurred infrequently, the probability of reporting MB increased when participants reported sleepiness.
During the SART, participants were probed about their thoughts (on-task, off-task, or blank) and their alertness level (high or low).
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
During the SART, participants were probed about their thoughts (on-task, off-task, or blank) and their alertness level (high or low).
❓ Could it be that SW-like activity and fMRI hyperconnectivity during MB reflect two sides of the same coin and that more fine-grained neural fingerprints of MB exist🎯 We utilised joint EEG-fMRI and experience sampling during a sustained attention task (SART) in healthy participants (n=38)
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
❓ Could it be that SW-like activity and fMRI hyperconnectivity during MB reflect two sides of the same coin and that more fine-grained neural fingerprints of MB exist🎯 We utilised joint EEG-fMRI and experience sampling during a sustained attention task (SART) in healthy participants (n=38)
We also know that MB is related to a fMRI brain pattern of overall positive connectivity (Mortaheb, 2022).
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
We also know that MB is related to a fMRI brain pattern of overall positive connectivity (Mortaheb, 2022).
To date, we know that the EEG correlates of MB resemble slow-wave-like (SW) activity, typically observed in NREM sleep, termed “local sleeps” (Andrillon, 2021).
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
To date, we know that the EEG correlates of MB resemble slow-wave-like (SW) activity, typically observed in NREM sleep, termed “local sleeps” (Andrillon, 2021).
Mind blanking (MB) is a mental state in which individuals have no mental content to report or are unable to report any content (Boulakis & Demertzi, 2025). But how is it possible to be conscious and yet have nothing in the mind? Perhaps the brain holds the answer 🤔
a man says i 'm coming out blank in a netflix advertisement
ALT: a man says i 'm coming out blank in a netflix advertisement
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Mind blanking (MB) is a mental state in which individuals have no mental content to report or are unable to report any content (Boulakis & Demertzi, 2025). But how is it possible to be conscious and yet have nothing in the mind? Perhaps the brain holds the answer 🤔
I would also like to thank @physiocognition.bsky.social @giga-crc-hi.bsky.social @universitedeliege.bsky.social and FNRS (frs-fnrs.be) for funding and supporting my research.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
I would also like to thank @physiocognition.bsky.social @giga-crc-hi.bsky.social @universitedeliege.bsky.social and FNRS (frs-fnrs.be) for funding and supporting my research.
This was a deeply collaborative work, and as such I would like to express my thanks to supervisor @ademertzi.bsky.social and my collaborators for this project @thomasandrillon.bsky.social @naotsuchiya.bsky.social @anikokusztor.bsky.social.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
This was a deeply collaborative work, and as such I would like to express my thanks to supervisor @ademertzi.bsky.social and my collaborators for this project @thomasandrillon.bsky.social @naotsuchiya.bsky.social @anikokusztor.bsky.social.
Our findings build on the quest to bridge thought content and its absence with measurable brain activity and provide insights into how ongoing thinking is maintained during wakefulness.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Our findings build on the quest to bridge thought content and its absence with measurable brain activity and provide insights into how ongoing thinking is maintained during wakefulness.
Together, where do we stand with these findings? 🤔
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types( as recently hypothesised🤯 Andrillon, 2025).
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types( as recently hypothesised🤯 Andrillon, 2025).
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Together, where do we stand with these findings? 🤔
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types( as recently hypothesised🤯 Andrillon, 2025).
By bridging such multimodal neural information, we overall conclude that “thought-less” mental states come in different types( as recently hypothesised🤯 Andrillon, 2025).
6) Finally, a Canonical Correlations Analysis between EEG SW-like activity and fMRI connectivity patterns showed that larger SW amplitude and steeper downslope correlated with the hyperconnected brain pattern.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
6) Finally, a Canonical Correlations Analysis between EEG SW-like activity and fMRI connectivity patterns showed that larger SW amplitude and steeper downslope correlated with the hyperconnected brain pattern.
4) Here is the catch: the brain organised similar to the “rich” P1 during MB and alertness reports. BUT, during low vigilance, the brain resembled the hyperconnected P5. Critically, the brain resembled P5 during MB too, but only when participants reported being alert.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
4) Here is the catch: the brain organised similar to the “rich” P1 during MB and alertness reports. BUT, during low vigilance, the brain resembled the hyperconnected P5. Critically, the brain resembled P5 during MB too, but only when participants reported being alert.
3) Using K-Means clustering, we found that time-varying functional connectivity could be summarised in five connectivity patterns. These varied from patterns of anticorrelations (P1-3) to patterns with weak synchronization (P4) and overall global synchronization (P5).
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
3) Using K-Means clustering, we found that time-varying functional connectivity could be summarised in five connectivity patterns. These varied from patterns of anticorrelations (P1-3) to patterns with weak synchronization (P4) and overall global synchronization (P5).
2) When we examined the fMRI global signal (GS) amplitude, a proxy for cortical arousal, both MB and low vigilance were associated with higher GS amplitude, as in Mortaheb 2022.
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
2) When we examined the fMRI global signal (GS) amplitude, a proxy for cortical arousal, both MB and low vigilance were associated with higher GS amplitude, as in Mortaheb 2022.