D. Bernal-Casas

Dr. D. Bernal-Casas

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

14Years (2013-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 June 2013 in NeuroImage
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Journal Article
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DBD. Bernal-Casas
D. Bernal-Casas
EBE. Balaguer-Ballester
E. Balaguer-Ballester
MGM.F. Gerchen
M.F. Gerchen
SIS. Iglesias
S. Iglesias
HWH. Walter
H. Walter
PKP. Kirsch
P. Kirsch

14 December 2024 in Mathematics
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DBD. Bernal-Casas
D. Bernal-Casas
JOJosé María Oller
José María Oller
This article demonstrates that the application of the variation method to purely information-theoretic models can lead to the discovery of fundamental equations in physics, such as Schrödinger’s equation. Our solution, expressed in terms of information parameters rather than physical quantities, suggests a profound implication—Schrödinger’s equation can be viewed as a unique physical expression of a more profound informational formalism, inspiring new avenues of research.

11 December 2023 in Symmetry
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DBD. Bernal-Casas
D. Bernal-Casas
Giuseppe VitielloGiuseppe Vitiello
Giuseppe Vitiello
We discuss the asymmetries of dynamical origin that are relevant to functional brain activity. The brain is permanently open to its environment, and its dissipative dynamics is characterized indeed by the asymmetries under time translation transformations and time-reversal transformations, which manifest themselves in the irreversible “arrow of time”. Another asymmetry of dynamical origin arises from the breakdown of the rotational symmetry of molecular electric dipoles, triggered by incoming stimuli, which manifests in long-range dipole-dipole correlations favoring neuronal correlations. In the dissipative model, neurons, glial cells, and other biological components are classical structures. The dipole vibrational fields are quantum variables. We review the quantum field theory model of the brain proposed by Ricciardi and Umezawa and its subsequent extension to dissipative dynamics. We then show that Bayes’ theorem in probability theory is intrinsic to the structure of the brain states and discuss its strict relation with entanglement phenomena and free energy minimization. The brain estimates the action with a higher Bayes probability to be taken to produce the aimed effect. Bayes’ rule provides the formal basis of the intentionality in brain activity, which we also discuss in relation to mind and consciousness.

14 October 2023 in Entropy
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DBD. Bernal-Casas
D. Bernal-Casas
JOJosé María Oller
José María Oller
This work addresses J.A. Wheeler’s critical idea that all things physical are information-theoretic in origin. In this paper, we introduce a novel mathematical framework based on information geometry, using the Fisher information metric as a particular Riemannian metric, defined in the parameter space of a smooth statistical manifold of normal probability distributions. Following this approach, we study the stationary states with the time-independent Schrödinger’s equation to discover that the information could be represented and distributed over a set of quantum harmonic oscillators, one for each independent source of data, whose coordinate for each oscillator is a parameter of the smooth statistical manifold to estimate. We observe that the estimator’s variance equals the energy levels of the quantum harmonic oscillator, proving that the estimator’s variance is definitively quantized, being the minimum variance at the minimum energy level of the oscillator. Interestingly, we demonstrate that quantum harmonic oscillators reach the Cramér–Rao lower bound on the estimator’s variance at the lowest energy level. In parallel, we find that the global probability density function of the collective mode of a set of quantum harmonic oscillators at the lowest energy level equals the posterior probability distribution calculated using Bayes’ theorem from the sources of information for all data values, taking as a prior the Riemannian volume of the informative metric. Interestingly, the opposite is also true, as the prior is constant. Altogether, these results suggest that we can break the sources of information into little elements: quantum harmonic oscillators, with the square modulus of the collective mode at the lowest energy representing the most likely reality, supporting A. Zeilinger’s recent statement that the world is not broken into physical but informational parts.

28 April 2024 in Entropy
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DBD. Bernal-Casas
D. Bernal-Casas
JOJosé María Oller
José María Oller
With this follow-up paper, we continue developing a mathematical framework based on information geometry for representing physical objects. The long-term goal is to lay down informational foundations for physics, especially quantum physics. We assume that we can now model information sources as univariate normal probability distributions N (μ, σ0), as before, but with a constant σ0 not necessarily equal to 1. Then, we also relaxed the independence condition when modeling m sources of information. Now, we model m sources with a multivariate normal probability distribution Nm(μ,Σ0) with a constant variance–covariance matrix Σ0 not necessarily diagonal, i.e., with covariance values different to 0, which leads to the concept of modes rather than sources. Invoking Schrödinger’s equation, we can still break the information into m quantum harmonic oscillators, one for each mode, and with energy levels independent of the values of σ0, altogether leading to the concept of “intrinsic”. Similarly, as in our previous work with the estimator’s variance, we found that the expectation of the quadratic Mahalanobis distance to the sample mean equals the energy levels of the quantum harmonic oscillator, being the minimum quadratic Mahalanobis distance at the minimum energy level of the oscillator and reaching the “intrinsic” Cramér–Rao lower bound at the lowest energy level. Also, we demonstrate that the global probability density function of the collective mode of a set of m quantum harmonic oscillators at the lowest energy level still equals the posterior probability distribution calculated using Bayes’ theorem from the sources of information for all data values, taking as a prior the Riemannian volume of the informative metric. While these new assumptions certainly add complexity to the mathematical framework, the results proven are invariant under transformations, leading to the concept of “intrinsic” information-theoretic models, which are essential for developing physics.

24 February 2025 in Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy
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ESEleonora Stefanini
Eleonora Stefanini
JMJoan Serrano Marin
Joan Serrano Marin
AIAlberto Iglesias
Alberto Iglesias
MFMiguel G. Fernández
Miguel G. Fernández
JSJuan Sánchez-Navés
Juan Sánchez-Navés
Rafael FrancoRafael Franco
Rafael Franco
Aim: This study investigates the association between ApoE genotype, plasma cholesteryl ester (CE) levels, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) status, with a focus on CE(20:4) and CE(22:5) levels as potential indicators of lipid metabolism alterations in AD patients. Methods: Publicly available metabolomics data (DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215448) from 94 AD patients and 62 controls aged 55 and older were re-analyzed. CE levels were examined using non-parametric tests due to the non-normal overall data distribution. Comparisons were stratified by ApoE genotypes (ε3/ε3 and ε3/ε4). Results: Significant increases in CE(20:4) and CE(22:5) levels were observed in AD patients with the ApoE ε3/ε4 genotype compared to controls (p-values 0.0387 and 0.0348, respectively). No significant differences were found for other CEs or among ε3/ε3 carriers (except for sex). Overlap between CE levels in AD and control groups limits their potential as diagnostic biomarkers but underscores their role in lipid dysregulation in AD pathophysiology. Conclusions: Elevated CE(20:4) and CE(22:5) levels in ε3/ε4 AD patients highlight lipid metabolism alterations associated with ApoE genotype. While not providing standalone biomarkers, these findings offer insights into AD-related lipid dysregulation and warrant further investigation in high-risk ε4/ε4 carriers and therapeutic targeting of lipid metabolism.