The Cyprus Neuroscience Society (C.N.S.) hosted its second research seminar on June 17th, 2025, at the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, welcoming attendees in person and online. The featured speaker, Dr. Phivos Phylactou, delivered an engaging talk titled “The Eyes Are the Window to Brain Excitability,” presenting compelling evidence on how pupil size can be used as a novel proxy for brain excitability.

Dr. Phylactou is a cognitive neuroscientist whose research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying working memory and cognitive processes. Currently he is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Western University (Canada), he will soon begin a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship at the University of Nevada, Reno. His research combines non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS), functional neuroimaging, and eye-tracking to explore the complex interplay between brain function and behavior.

In his presentation, Dr. Phylactou showcased a series of experiments demonstrating that pupil size dilation—measured through pupillometry—can reliably reflect changes in cortical excitability (CE), an index typically derived from motor system-based responses to TMS. This innovative approach addresses a critical limitation in brain stimulation research: the exclusion of individuals with damage along the corticospinal pathway. His findings offer a powerful, non-motor method for assessing brain excitability, opening new doors for more inclusive and targeted neuromodulation therapies.

We thank Dr. Phylactou for his thought-provoking presentation and all participants who contributed to the lively discussion that followed. The Cyprus Neuroscience Society remains committed to fostering collaboration and advancing neuroscience across the island and internationally.

Stay tuned for more events in our 2025 seminar series. For inquiries about membership or presenting at a future seminar, please contact us at info@cnscyprus.com.