The void and the brain.
Cell reports – July 22, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
A potent psychedelic uniquely slows brain activity without the typical reduction in alpha waves seen with other similar compounds. Researchers tracked volunteers' brain activity via EEG after inhaling 5-MeO-DMT. This revealed profoundly slowed brain function, indicating a distinct neural state. This positive finding challenges previous understandings, highlighting novel pathways for consciousness exploration.
Abstract
Blackburne et al. track the electroencephalogram activity of volunteers inhaling a high dose of the powerful psychedelic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, revealing profoundly slowed-down brain activity but no significant reduction of alpha band power that is typical of other psychedelics.1.