Eleftheria Pistolas

The GestaltReVision Lab spent the past week diving deep into our research projects, exploring connections between our interests, and learning from one another.

Our annual retreat isn’t just an investment in scientific growth, it’s also a reminder that great research is built on strong teams.

@gestaltrevision.bsky.social @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social
#Ganzfeld #EmpiricalAesthetics #VisionScience #Consciousness #CognitiveNeuroscience #KULeuven

A huge thank you to ZLDR Luchtfabriek for their cooperation with this project, allowing us to collect data in their Ganzfeld art installation.

Kudos summary: www.growkudos.com/publications...

Full paper: www.researchgate.net/publication/...

Together, these findings suggest that the compelling nature of Ganzfeld art lies in its ability to induce profound, introspective, meditative-like experiences, bridging aesthetics, perception, and consciousness research.

* Two recurring cognitive processing styles emerged: abstract vs. perceptually grounded cognition

* Eye convergence coincided with hallucinations and perceptual decays, suggesting a focused state

* Bodily sensations (especially lightness and floating) and alpha power were associated with beauty and sublime-like experiences

* Liking was linked to distorted depth perception

* Beauty and liking reflected distinct experiential dimensions

Key findings:

* Altered states of consciousness appeared central to aesthetic appeal

In this study, we present the first empirical investigation of aesthetic experiences in Ganzfeld art. Using a mixed-methods approach, we combined EEG, eye-tracking, ratings, and interviews to study the aesthetic appeal of Ganzfeld art experiences.

Very grateful to my co-authors Corinna Kühnapfel, Boris Quétard, Liv Smets, and Johan Wagemans for this wonderful collaboration!

I’m excited to share our new paper, “Filling in the Blanks of Ganzfeld Art”, now published in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.

Thank you @cognitionjournal.bsky.social for this recognition of my reviewing efforts!

Check out the new Art & Perception recounting #VSAC2025! It features abstracts from our lab by Johan Wagemans, @eleftheriapistolas.bsky.social, Maarten Leemans, @chrislinden.bsky.social, Elisabeth Van der Hulst, Anne-Sofie Maerten, Michiel Willems, Stefanie De Winter and @lisa-kossmann.bsky.social!

@gestaltrevision.bsky.social @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social @openmindjournal.bsky.social #Perception #VisionScience

A massive thank you to Ignace Hooge and Roy Hessels for all their advice on the eye-tracking data preprocessing and analysis.

Together, these findings offer a multifaceted understanding of the perceptual, emotional, and cognitive aspects of Ganzfeld experiences, with a closer look into the temporal dynamics.

* At the neural level:

• Increased theta activity (midfrontal), which may align with neural signatures associated with mind blanking.

• Increased alpha activity (occipital), consistent with attenuated sensory processing and reduced external engagement.

* At the level of subjective experience: a noticeable lag in reporting, often described as “losing everything” or “needing time to come back to awareness”, resonating with qualitative characteristics of mind blanking.

* At the behavioral level: reduced eye movements, aligning with the fading of sensory information.

• Perceptual decays were reported continuously during the Ganzfeld session using a dial and indicated:

• These perceptual experiences pointed us toward different cognitive processing styles, some more inward-focused, others more externally directed.

• Ganzfeld spaces reliably induce altered states of consciousness and immersive, full-body experiences with distinct bodily sensations such as imbalance, floating, and lightness.

Key findings:

We used a multi-method approach, combining EEG, eye-tracking, continuous reporting of percept formation and decays, interviews, and questionnaires, to capture how neural, behavioral, and phenomenal aspects of Ganzfeld experiences unfold over time.

Thank you to my co-authors: Boris Quétard, @sucharit.bsky.social and Johan Wagemans for this exciting collaboration.

I’m excited to share our latest article “The Multifaceted Ganzfeld at the Crossroad Between Visual Perception and Consciousness: Behavioral, Neural and Qualitative Aspects”, published in Open Mind!

Super excited for the second edition of Vision and Depiction in Delft! If the first edition was anything to go by, it promises to be a great one!