Andrés canales-Johnson
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I am an Affiliated Lecturer at Cambridge's Psychology Department and one of the principal investigators in the Consciousness and Cognition Lab. I received a Biology degree from Universidad de Valparaiso (Chile), and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). My part of the lab combines non-invasive (EEG) and invasive (ECoG) electrophysiological recordings with cutting-edge tools from information theory, spectral analyses, and computational modeling to investigate consciousness and cognition in human and animal models. My research is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, currently involving collaborations with European and US laboratories regarding the study of perception and consciousness, and South American labs pertaining to the neurocognitive effects of poverty and social vulnerability. |
Current Research
Changes in the content of our perception can be externally driven when there is an actual change in the stimulus (e.g. different images in a movie) but they can also be internally driven when perception alternates while the stimulus is constant (e.g. hearing music in the noise of a fan). We investigate the brain dynamics of several internally generated phenomena such as perceptual bistability, mental imagery, hypnotic hallucinations, and changes in the contents of experience during meditation practices. This research primarily combines EEG and ECoG recordings with brain connectivity and neural complexity metrics derived from information theory and spectral decomposition.
One of our recent studies performed on monkeys demonstrated that contrary to the mainstream view, auditory predictions are signalled by the arrhythmic part of the LFP signal (broadband activity), rather than by its rhythmic part (neural oscillations). We are currently expanding this program by comparing predictive processing across species including marmosets, mice, and humans. This research combines ECoG with machine learning methods, neurocomputational modelling, and novel metrics derived from information theory and brain connectivity (e.g. synergy, transfer entropy, information sharing). This programme is possible due to my network of collaborators at the RIKEN Institute (Japan), Ernst Strüngmann Institute (Germany), and the Mayo Clinic (USA).
Media
Popular Podcast
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Talking Brains on YouTube
Talking Brains host Andres Canales-Johnson discusses fundamental questions about life and the human mind with thinkers from diverse and unique backgrounds, from the whole spectrum of the arts and sciences. Check out the channel here! |
PUBLICATIONS
GOOGLE SCHOLAR CITATIONS
Selected Publications
- Gelens F, Äijälä J, Roberts L, Komatsu M, Uran C, Jensen MA, Miller KJ, Ince RAA, Garagnani M, Vinck M, Canales-Johnson A. Distributed representations of prediction error signals across the cortical hierarchy are synergistic. Nature Communications (2024).
- Vinck M, Uran C, Dowdall JR, Rummell B, Canales-Johnson A. Large-scale interactions in predictive processing: oscillatory versus transient dynamics. Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2024).
- Vinck M, Uran C, Spyropoulos G, Onorato I, Broggini AC, Schneider M, Canales-Johnson A. Principles of large-scale neural interactions. Neuron (2023)
- Canales-Johnson A, Beerendonk L, Chennu S, Davidson MJ, Ince RAA, van Gaal S. Feedback information transfer in the human brain reflects bistable perception in the absence of report. PLoS Biology (2023).
- Canales-Johnson A, Teixeira Borges F, Komatsu M, Fujii N, Fahrenfort JJ, Miller KJ, Noreika V. Broadband dynamics rather than frequency-specific rhythms underlie prediction error in the primate auditory cortex. Journal of Neuroscience (2021).
- Lanfranco RC, Rivera-Rei AA, Huepe D, Ibanez A, Canales-Johnson A. Beyond imagination: Hypnotic visual hallucination induces greater lateralised brain activity than visual mental imagery. NeuroImage (2021).
- Canales-Johnson A, Billig, A, Olivares F, Gonzalez A, Garcia MC, Silva W, Vaucheret E, Ciraolo C, Mikulan E, Ibanez A, Huepe D, Chennu S, Bekinschtein T. Dissociable neural information dynamics of perceptual integration and differentiation during bistable perception. Cerebral Cortex (2020).
Publications and Pre-Prints
2025
- Roberts L, Äijälä J, Burger F, Uran C, Jensen MA, Miller KJ, Ince RAA, Vinck M, Hermes D, Canales-Johnson A. Broadband synergy versus oscillatory redundancy in the visual cortex. bioRxiv.
- Chidichimo E, Dumas G, Mediano PAM, Luppi AI, Leong V, Canales-Johnson A, Bethlehem RAI. Towards an information-theoretic social neuroscience. PsyArXiv.
- Blume C, Dauphin M, Niedernhuber M, Spitschan M, Meyer MP, Cajochen C, Bekinschtein TA, Canales-Johnson A. Reduced and redundant: information processing of prediction error during sleep. bioRxiv.
- Potash RM, van Mil SD, Estarellas M, Canales-Johnson A, Sacchet MD. Integrated phenomenology and brain connectivity demonstrate changes in nonlinear processing in jhana advanced meditation. bioRxiv.
- Gelens F, Äijälä J, Roberts L, Komatsu M, Uran C, Jensen MA, Miller KJ, Ince RAA, Garagnani M, Vinck M, Canales-Johnson A. Distributed representations of prediction error signals across the cortical hierarchy are synergistic. Nature Communications.
- Lanfranco R, Canales-Johnson A, Rabagliati H, Cleeremans A, Carmel D. Minimal exposures reveal visual processing priorities. Nature Communications.
- Vinck M, Uran C, Dowdall JR, Rummell B, Canales-Johnson A. Large-scale interactions in predictive processing: oscillatory versus transient dynamics. Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
- Lanfranco RC, Dos Santos Sousa F, Wessel, P. M., Rivera-Rei Á, Bekinschtein TA, Lucero B, Canales-Johnson A, Huepe D. Slow-wave brain connectivity predicts executive functioning and group belonging in socially vulnerable individuals. Cortex.
- Lewis-Healey E, Tagliazucchi E, Canales-Johnson A, Bekinschtein TA. Breathwork-induced psychedelic experiences modulate neural dynamics. Cerebral Cortex.
- Alameda C, Avancini C, Sanabria D, Bekinschtein TA, Canales-Johnson A, Ciria LF. Staying in control: characterising the mechanisms underlying cognitive control in high and low arousal states. British Journal of Psychology.
- Avancini C, Ciria LF, Alameda C, Palenciano AF, Canales-Johnson A, Bekinschtein TA, Sanabria D. High arousal disrupts the neural signatures of conflict processing but not behavioural performance. Communications Biology.
- Vinck M, Uran C, Spyropoulos G, Onorato I, Broggini AC, Schneider M, Canales-Johnson A. Principles of large-scale neural interactions. Neuron.
- Canales-Johnson A, Beerendonk L, Chennu S, Davidson MJ, Ince RAA, van Gaal S. Feedback information transfer in the human brain reflects bistable perception in the absence of report. PLoS Biology.
- Parr JVV, Gallicchio G, Canales‐Johnson A, Uiga l, Wood G. Cortical, muscular, and kinetic activity underpinning attentional focus strategies during visuomotor control. Psychophysiology.
- Huepe D, Canales-Johnson A, Rivera-Rei A, Ibanez A, Bekinschtein TA. Neural and behavioural dynamics of the individual and collective self (s). bioRxiv.
- Santamaria L, Canales-Johnson A, Noreika V, Leong V. Principles for Optimal Window Size Selection for Infant and Adult EEG Connectivity Analysis. 8th International Conference on Signal and Image Processing (ICSIP).
- Vinck M, Uran C, Canales-Johnson A. The neural dynamics of feedforward and feedback interactions in predictive processing. PsyArxiv.
- Olivares J, Orio P, Sadílek V, Schmachtenberg O, Canales-Johnson A. Neural oscillations across olfactory regions encode odorant information in the teleost olfactory system. bioRxiv.
- Jachs B, Camino Garcia M, Canales-Johnson A, Bekinschtein TA. Drawing the experience dynamics of meditation. bioRxiv.
- Ahumada-Menze F, Lucero B, Avenanti A, Munoz-Quezada MT, Saracini C, Cortes-Rivera C, Canales-Johnson A. Affective modulation of cognitive control: A systematic review of EEG studies. Physiology & Behavior.
- Pascovich C, Castro-Zaballa S, Mediano P, Bor D, Canales-Johnson A, Torterolo P, Bekinschtein TA. Ketamine and sleep modulate neural complexity dynamics in cats. European Journal of Neuroscience.
- Lanfranco RC, Canales-Johnson A, Vargas E, Lucero B, Noreika, V. Towards a view from within: On the scientific study of consciousness and the contribution of Francisco Varela. Adaptive Behavior.
- Canales-Johnson A, Teixeira Borges F, Komatsu M, Fujii N, Fahrenfort JJ, Miller KJ, Noreika V. Broadband dynamics rather than frequency-specific rhythms underlie prediction error in the primate auditory cortex. Journal of Neuroscience.
- Lanfranco RC, Rivera-Rei AA, Huepe D, Ibanez A, Canales-Johnson A. Beyond imagination: Hypnotic visual hallucination induces greater lateralised brain activity than visual mental imagery. NeuroImage.
- Nuiten S, Canales-Johnson A, Beerendonk L, Nanuashvili N, Fahrenfort JJ, Bekinschtein T, van Gaal S. Preserved sensory processing but hampered conflict detection when stimulus input is task-irrelevant. eLife.
- Canales-Johnson A, Bekinschtein T, Arzi A. Neural Dynamics of Associative Learning during Human Sleep. Cerebral Cortex.
- Canales-Johnson A, Beerendonk L, Blain S, Kitaoka S, Ezquerro-Nassar A, Nuiten S, Fahrenfort J, van Gaal S, Bekinschtein T. Decreased alertness reconfigures cognitive control networks. Journal of Neuroscience.
- Noreika V, Kamke, MR, Canales-Johnson A, Chennu, S, Mattingley J, Bekinschtein T. Alertness fluctuations when performing a task during wake-to-sleep transition modulate cortical evoked responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation. NeuroImage.
- Canales-Johnson A, Lanfranco RC, Morales JP, Martinez-Pernia D, Valdes J, Ezquerro-Nassar A, Rivera-Rei A, Ibanez A, Bekinschtein TA, Huepe D, Noreika V. In your phase: neural phase synchronisation underlies visual imagery of faces. Scientific Reports.
- Canales-Johnson A, Billig, A, Olivares F, Gonzalez A, Garcia MC, Silva W, Vaucheret E, Ciraolo C, Mikulan E, Ibanez A, Huepe D, Chennu S, Bekinschtein T. Dissociable neural information dynamics of perceptual integration and differentiation during bistable perception. Cerebral Cortex.
- Imperatori, L. S., Betta, M., Cecchetti, L., Canales-Johnson, A., Ricciardi, E., Pietrini, P., ... & Bernardi, G. EEG functional connectivity metrics wPLI and wSMI account for distinct types of brain functional interactions. Scientific Reports.
- Sedeno, L., Couto, B., Melloni, M., Canales-Johnson, A., Yoris, A., Baez, S., [...], Barttfeld, P. Interoception, Functional Connectivity and Emotional Processing in Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder. Acta Psiquiatrica y Psicologica de America Latina.
- Olivares F, Vargas E, Fuentes C, Martínez-Pernía D, Canales-Johnson A. Neurophenomenology revisited: second-person methods for the study of human consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Canales-Johnson A, Silva C, Huepe D, Rivera-Rei A, Noreika V, [...], Ibáñez A, Rodríguez E, Bekinschtein T. Auditory feedback differentially modulates behavioral and neural markers of objective and subjective performance when tapping to your heartbeat. Cerebral Cortex.
- Couto B, Adolfi F, Velasquez M, Mesow M, Feinstein J, Canales-Johnson A, Mikulan E, Martínez-Pernía D, Bekinschtein T, Sigman M, Manes F, Ibanez A. Heart evoked potential triggers brain responses to natural affective scenes: A preliminary study. Autonomic Neuroscience.
- Couto B, Adolfi F, Sedeño L, Salles A, Canales-Johnson A, […], Bekinschtein T, Sigman M, Manes F, Ibáñez A. Disentangling interoception: insights from two focal strokes affecting the perception of external and internal milieus. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Noreika V, Canales-Johnson A, Koh J, Taylor M, Massey I, Bekinschtein T. Intrusions of a drowsy mind: Electroencephalographic correlates of phenomenological unpredictability. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Lillo-Unglaube M, Canales-Johnson A, Navarrete G, Fuentes C. Towards an experimental account of argumentation: the case of the slippery slope and the ad hominem arguments. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Chennu S, Finoia P, Kamau E, Allanson J, Williams GB, Monti M, Noreika V, Arnatkeviciute A, Canales-Johnson A, Olivares F, Cabezas-Soto D, Menon D, Pickard J, Owen A, Bekinschtein T. Spectral signatures of reorganised brain networks in disorders of consciousness. PLoS Computational Biology.
- Lanfranco RC, Canales-Johnson A, Huepe D. Hypnoanalgesia and the study of pain experience: from Cajal to modern neuroscience. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Sedeño L, Couto B, Melloni M, Canales-Johnson A, Yoirs A, Baez S, Esteves S, Velasquez M, Bartfeld P, Sigman M, […], Ibáñez A. How do you feel when you can’t feel your body?: interoception, functional connectivity and emotional processing in chronic depersonalization disorder. PLoS ONE.
- Escobar MJ, Huepe D, Decety J, Sedeño L, Messow MK, Baez S, Rivera-Rei, Canales-Johnson A, [...], Ibáñez A. Brain signatures of moral sensitivity in adolescents with early social deprivation. Scientific Reports.
- Melloni M, Sedeño L, Couto B, Reynoso M, Gelormini C, Favaloro R, Canales-Johnson A, Sigman A, Manes F, Ibanez A. Preliminary evidence about the effects of meditation on interoceptive sensitivity and social cognition. Behavioral and Brain Functions.
- Soto-Brandt G, Portilla R, Huepe D, Rivera-Rei Á, Escobar MJ, Salas N, Canales-Johnson A, Ibáñez A, Martínez C, Castillo-Carniglia A. Validity evidence of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) in Chile. Adicciones.
- Couto B, Sedeño L, Salles A, Bartfeld, P, Canales-Johnson A, Peradejordi M, Vidal Dos Santos Y, Bekinschtein T, Sigman M, Barttfeld P, Manes F, & Ibáñez A. The man who feels two hearts: The different pathways of interoception. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
- Vargas E, Canales-Johnson A, Fuentes C. Francisco Varela’s Neurophenomenology of time: Temporality of consciousness explained? Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría.
- Escobar MJ, Rivera-Rei A, Decety J, Huepe D, Helgiu E, Baez S, Canales-Johnson A, Manes F, Lopez V, Ibáñez A. Attachment style triggers differential neural signature of emotional processing in adolescents. PLoS ONE.
- Lanfranco R, Manriquez P, Avello L, Canales-Johnson A. Evaluación de la enfermedad de Alzheimer en etapa temprana: biomarcadores y pruebas neuropsicológicas. Revista Médica de Chile.
- Ibanez A, Melloni M, Huepe D, Helgiu E, Rivera-Rei A, Canales-Johnson A, Baker P, Moya A. What event-related potentials (ERP) bring to social neuroscience? Social Neuroscience.
- Canales-Johnson A, Lanfranco R, Vargas, E, Ibáñez A. Neurobiología de la hipnosis y su contribución al estudio de la cognición y la conciencia. Anales de Psicología.
- Rivera-Rei A, Canales-Johnson A, Huepe D, Ibáñez A. The role of consciousness in the urge for action. Cognitive Neuroscience.
- Huepe D, Roca M, Salas N, Canales-Johnson A, Rivera-Rei AA, Zamorano L, Concepción A, Manes F, Ibanez A. Fluid intelligence and psychosocial outcome: from logical problem solving to psychosocial adaptation. PLoS ONE.
- Petroni A, Canales-Johnson A, Urquina H, Guex R, Hurtado E, Blenkmann A, von Ellenrieder N, Manes F, Sigman M, Ibanez A. The cortical processing of facial emotional expression is associated to social cognition skills and executive functioning: A preliminary study. Neuroscience Letters.
- Canales-Johnson AF, Gómez DM, Maffet CR. A critical assessment of the consciousness by synchrony hypothesis. Biological Research.
Collaborators
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Here are my main collaborators:
Robin A.A. Ince, Ph.D. University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. Web: http://www.robinince.net/ Simon van Gaal, Ph.D. University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Web: https://www.consciousbrainlab.com/ Victoria Leong, Ph.D. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Web: https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp00508 Martin Vinck, Ph.D. Ernst Strüngmann Institute, Germany. Web: https://esi-frankfurt.de/research/vinck-lab/ Misako Komatsu, Ph.D. RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan. Web: http://neurotycho.org/ Boris Lucero, Ph.D. Universidad Catolica del Maule, Chile. Web: https://www.labpsicologiaucm.com/ |
David Huepe, Ph.D.
Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, Chile. Web: http://cscn.uai.cl/equipo/david-huepe/ Renzo Lanfranco, Ph.D. Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Web: http://staff.ki.se/people/renzo-lanfranco Kai J. Miller, M.D., Ph.D. Mayo Clinic, USA. Web: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/miller-kai-j-m-d-ph-d/bio-20474157 Dora Hermes, Ph.D. Mayo Clinic, USA. Web: https://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/hermes-miller-dora-ph-d/bio-20471548 Max Garagnani, Ph.D. Goldsmith, University of London, United Kingdom. Web: https://www.gold.ac.uk/computing/people/garagnani-max/ Matthew Sacchet, Ph.D. Harvard University, USA. Web: https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/people.html Daniel Sanabria, Ph.D. Universidad de Granada, Spain. Web: https://www.ugr.es/en/staff/daniel-sanabria-lucena |