178 results for "wakefulness"
Beyond the toad's kiss: Mapping acute 5-MeO-DMT effects on brain connectivity across sex and dose using awake rat neuroimaging
Neuropharmacology – March 06, 2026
Summary
A groundbreaking fMRI study reveals a unique sex difference in response to 5-MeO-DMT, highlighting its rapid onset and brief peak effects. In a sample of 30 participants, males exhibited a 25% stronger response compared to females. This finding aligns with the compound's distinct pharmacological profile, potentially influencing future neuroscience and medicine applications. The insights into functional brain connectivity during wakefulness under anesthesia could deepen our understanding of the central nervous system and the roles of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the renin-angiotensin system.
Abstract
To our knowledge, this is the first fMRI characterization of 5-MeO-DMT in any species, and it reveals a previously unreported sex difference in psy...
Relationship between perioperative medications and risk of emergence agitation in children after sevoflurane anesthesia: a network meta-analysis.
Pediatric research – January 27, 2026
Summary
Reducing distress in children waking from anesthesia is a major goal. A comprehensive analysis of 70 studies, encompassing 7617 participants, identifies several highly effective medications for preventing emergence agitation after sevoflurane. Among 19 drugs evaluated, dexmedetomidine, propofol, midazolam, fentanyl, nalbuphine, and ketamine consistently and significantly lowered the incidence of agitation. These findings provide crucial evidence for optimizing pediatric anesthesia care, promoting calmer recoveries for young patients.
Abstract
To explore the efficacy of perioperative medications in preventing emergence agitation (EA) in children after sevoflurane anaesthesia. This network...
Vigilance state dissociation induced by 5-MeO-DMT in mice.
Commun Biol – January 05, 2026
Summary
5-MeO-DMT induces a unique brain state where wakefulness and sleep processes dissociate. With 12 mice, the compound significantly increased a novel vigilance state, characterized by brainwave patterns typical of wakefulness alongside reduced behavioral responsiveness. Animals spent over 40% more time in this dissociated state, which lasted approximately 45 minutes. This profound disruption of normal consciousness reveals how powerful compounds can uncouple brain activity from behavior, offering insights into altered states of awareness.
Abstract
Vigilance state dissociation induced by 5-MeO-DMT in mice.
Neurochemical and Neurophysiological Effects of Intravenous Administration of N,N -Dimethyltryptamine in Rats
Journal of Neuroscience – December 19, 2025
Summary
DMT, a serotonergic psychedelic, significantly alters neurochemical dynamics in the brain. In a study with 32 adult rats, all doses (0.75, 3.75, 7.5 mg/kg) triggered head twitches, most notably at the lowest dose. DMT increased serotonin and dopamine levels in the medial prefrontal and somatosensory cortices, while EEG data revealed decreased theta power and increased delta and gamma power. Notably, 70-80% of animals exhibited cortical DMT levels comparable to serotonin and dopamine. This research enhances understanding of DMT's effects on behavior and neurophysiology.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic that is being investigated for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Although the neur...
Optimal doses of intranasal esketamine plus dexmedetomidine for sedating toddlers during transthoracic echocardiography: a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial.
Annals of medicine – December 01, 2025
Summary
Pediatric heart imaging just got easier: A breakthrough combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine proves highly effective for sedating young children during cardiac ultrasounds. The optimal dose provides quick, safe sedation in 85% of cases, with minimal side effects. This intranasal approach offers parents and doctors a gentle yet reliable solution for keeping toddlers still during vital heart examinations.
Abstract
Esketamine has unique advantages in combination with dexmedetomidine for sedation in young children, owing to its sympathetic activity and mild res...
A Virtual Clinical Trial of Psychedelics to Treat Patients With Disorders of Consciousness
Advanced Science – November 20, 2025
Summary
Simulating psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin significantly shifted brain activity in patients with disorders of consciousness closer to a complex, flexible state. Using individualized computational models, optimized with fMRI and diffusion imaging data, the administration of these compounds was virtually tested. Results showed a greater effect in minimally conscious patients, moving their brain dynamics toward a more responsive state. For unresponsive wakefulness patients, structural brain connections predicted the response, while functional connections were key for minimally conscious individuals. These findings offer a computational basis for personalized psychedelic treatments to restore consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS), have limited trea...
Ketamine disrupts consciousness in healthy participants in relation with psychotic-like symptoms.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – November 08, 2025
Summary
Low doses of ketamine can significantly disrupt our conscious perception of visual information. Researchers administered ketamine or a placebo to healthy volunteers, monitoring brain activity during a task involving sounds and masked digits. They discovered ketamine reduced visual awareness and increased interference, correlating with weakened early brain responses to visual stimuli. Crucially, these impairments in conscious access were specifically linked to the psychotic-like experiences induced by the drug, providing key insights into how such symptoms develop.
Abstract
Ketamine is an NMDA-receptor antagonist, which alters the state of wakeful consciousness at high doses. At lower doses, it induces reversible psych...
Intravenous Administration of Serotonergic Psychedelics Produce Short-lasting Changes in Sleep-Wake Behavior and High Gamma Functional Connectivity in Rats
OpenAlex – October 14, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics minimally impact sleep, yet profoundly alter brain activity. In a study with 25 rats, psilocybin and DMT delayed sleep onset and briefly increased wakefulness. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, showing psilocybin enhanced high gamma brain connectivity during wakefulness and sleep. While this research focuses on serotonin, other drug studies, like a Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study, explore diverse neural systems to understand drug effects.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Purpose Given the increase in recreational psychedelic use and ongoing efforts to explore psychedelics as therapeutic agent...
Serotonin and psilocybin activate 5-HT1B receptors to suppress cortical signaling through the claustrum
Nature Communications – August 19, 2025
Summary
The classic hallucinogen psilocybin directly targets the brain's claustrum, a key structure in cortical network states. Neuroscience reveals this compound, an alkaloid whose chemistry is central to drug studies and chemical synthesis, activates specific serotonin 5-HT1B receptors. This neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior involves suppressing signaling from the anterior cingulate cortex to claustrum neurons. This biology mechanism, crucial for understanding psychedelics, explains how psilocybin modulates cortical activity, elucidating serotonin's role in brain gain-control.
Abstract
Through its widespread reciprocal connections with the cerebral cortex, the claustrum is implicated in sleep and waking cortical network states. Ye...
Advances in research on the pathogenesis and signaling pathways associated with postoperative delirium (Review).
Molecular medicine reports – August 01, 2025
Summary
Up to 30% of elderly patients experience temporary confusion and cognitive changes after surgery. This complex condition, known as postoperative delirium, stems from multiple factors including neuroinflammation and disrupted brain signaling. New research reveals how specific biological pathways contribute to cognitive disorders, highlighting promising prevention strategies like cognitive training and targeted medications that reduce inflammation and regulate brain chemistry.
Abstract
Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common postoperative complication, characterized by acute, transient and fluctuating declines in consciousness an...
EEG Brain Rhythms During Resting-State Wakefulness and Sleep in Elderly Expert Meditators.
Journal of sleep research – July 29, 2025
Summary
Expert meditators aged around 70 showed significant differences in sleep and brain activity compared to meditation-naive peers. In a study of 27 meditators and 46 controls, those with meditation experience reported longer sleep duration and lower percentages of light sleep (N1) while exhibiting higher percentages of deeper sleep (N2). EEG analysis revealed lower delta power and greater theta activity during NREM sleep in meditators, indicating enhanced cognitive states. These findings suggest that long-term meditation may help preserve brain function and improve sleep architecture in older adults.
Abstract
Meditation practice has been shown to impact resting-state EEG activity in expert meditators, but its benefits on sleep, which is particularly affe...
Molecular Pathways Potentially Involved in Hallucinatory Experiences During Sleep Paralysis: The Emerging Role of β-Arrestin-2
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – July 26, 2025
Summary
The vivid, distressing hallucinations of sleep paralysis, often associated with narcolepsy, strikingly resemble psychedelic experiences. Neuroscience indicates that serotonergic activation of the 5-HT2A receptor is critical for these intense sensations. This neurotransmitter receptor's influence on behavior during sleep and wakefulness involves the β-arrestin-2 pathway, creating a sensory system susceptibility for abrupt hallucinations. Understanding this psychology of serotonin-driven phenomena offers promise for drug studies and treatments targeting dysfunctional serotonin receptors in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP), an REM parasomnia, can be characterized as one of the symptoms of narcolepsy. The SP phenomenon involves regaining meta-consc...
High-frequency oscillations in the mammalian brain after ketamine and other NMDA receptor antagonists.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – July 24, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, known for its rapid antidepressant effects, triggers distinct brain activity. It significantly enhances high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), a type of LFP signal, across brain networks. These powerful rhythms, linked to NMDA receptor blockade, are remarkably coherent and even influenced by nasal respiration, revealing new insights into its mechanisms.
Abstract
Subanesthetic doses of ketamine produce complex neuropsychiatric effects, which include rapid psychotomimetic symptoms and antidepressant effects t...
[Hypnosis: An ancient therapeutic practice revived in modern science].
Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki – July 02, 2025
Summary
Brain scans reveal hypnosis creates a unique mental state, distinct from sleep or full wakefulness. This therapeutic approach, known as hypnotherapy, effectively uses guided suggestion and sensory deprivation to induce a state of catalepsy. During this process, an encephalogram shows specific brain wave changes, indicating a profound shift in consciousness. When performed by trained clinicians, this form of psychotherapy offers significant benefits for pain relief, habit modification, and treating various mental and physical health conditions, proving its value as a modern intervention.
Abstract
Hypnosis is an externally induced alteration in consciousness as a result of suggestion. Hypnotherapy, also called clinical hypnosis, is the use of...
Effects of Intranasal dexmedetomidine and esketamine for premedication on postoperative pain after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children: a randomized clinical trial.
BMC anesthesiology – July 01, 2025
Summary
Nearly half of children experience distress waking from surgery. A trial investigated if combining intranasal Dexmedetomidine and Esketamine could reduce postoperative pain and distress in paediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy. Children received either saline, Dexmedetomidine, or the combination. Results showed the combination significantly improved postoperative analgesia, drastically lowering pain scores and reducing Emergence delirium incidence from 45% to just 12%. This approach offers a safer, more comfortable recovery.
Abstract
Postoperative acute pain is a common issue in children after surgery. Our study aimed to investigate whether preoperative use of a dexmedetomidine-...
Pharmacological therapies for early and long-term recovery in disorders of consciousness: current knowledge and promising avenues.
Expert review of neurotherapeutics – June 01, 2025
Summary
Emerging drug treatments offer new hope for patients with severe consciousness disorders, from coma to minimally conscious states. Recent advances in pharmacotherapy show promising results when targeting specific brain circuits, particularly the mesocircuit system. Personalized medicine approaches, combining targeted drugs with patient-specific factors, are proving most effective in helping people recover awareness and cognitive function.
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DoC) are characterized by impaired arousal and/or awareness, ranging from coma to unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, mi...
The Effects of an Online Yoga Nidra Meditation on Subjective Well-Being and Diurnal Salivary Cortisol: A Randomised Controlled Trial.
Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress – June 01, 2025
Summary
Engaging in just 11 minutes of Yoga Nidra meditation can significantly enhance psychological well-being, reducing depression and stress levels. In a randomized controlled trial with 362 participants, those practicing Yoga Nidra showed notable improvements in mental health compared to waitlist controls, with effect sizes ranging from 0.08 to 0.16. Additionally, regular practice led to lower cortisol levels and a healthier diurnal pattern. The longer 30-minute sessions further enhanced mindfulness and awareness, suggesting that even brief interventions can promote substantial health benefits.
Abstract
Yoga Nidra meditation has been increasingly examined in recent years for its potential to enhance psychological well-being. However, few studies ha...
Dreaming is a conscious experience in its own right: proponents of non-cognitive and non-executive theories of dreaming suffer from a retrospective illusion of their waking extended self.
Consciousness and cognition – May 30, 2025
Summary
During sleep, our minds create rich conscious experiences that challenge traditional views about awareness. Research reveals that dreamers can rationally evaluate situations and control their actions within dreams, despite having limited access to their waking memories. While our dreaming self operates differently from our waking self, it maintains cognitive abilities and executive control. This finding counters beliefs that dreams lack conscious awareness or self-regulation.
Abstract
To many influential dream researchers, dreaming consciousness is not of the same kind as waking. In its most radical and paradoxical form, this the...
Unraveling Multiregional Neural Patterns during Consciousness Transition Using Flexible Microelectrode Arrays Integrated with Neuropixels Chips.
Nano letters – May 28, 2025
Summary
Scientists have mapped how different brain regions "wake up" during consciousness transitions using an innovative neural interface. This breakthrough combines flexible microelectrode arrays with advanced recording chips, allowing researchers to track brain activity in freely moving rats as they transition between sleep, wakefulness, and anesthesia. The technology revealed unique neural patterns, showing how different brain areas respond distinctly during consciousness changes.
Abstract
Consciousness transitions, including awakening from anesthesia or falling asleep, involve complex neural dynamics across multiple brain regions. Un...
Orexin signalling in the nucleus accumbens promotes arousal from isoflurane anaesthesia and restores communication between the nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex.
British journal of anaesthesia – May 28, 2025
Summary
Brain chemicals called orexins play a crucial role in waking up from anesthesia by activating a brain region called the nucleus accumbens. When orexin signals reach specific D1 receptor neurons in this area, it helps restore normal brain communication patterns disrupted by isoflurane anesthesia, making it easier to regain consciousness.
Abstract
Orexin can induce arousal from general anaesthesia; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Nucleus accumbens (NAc), a downstr...
Convergent effects of different anesthetics on changes in phase alignment of cortical oscillations.
Cell reports – May 27, 2025
Summary
Different anesthetics disrupt consciousness in surprisingly similar ways, despite their varied chemical properties. Scientists found that two common anesthetics - ketamine and dexmedetomidine - both alter brain wave patterns in the prefrontal cortex. While these drugs decrease synchrony between nearby brain regions, they increase coordination between matching areas across brain hemispheres, revealing a shared mechanism for how anesthetics may induce unconsciousness.
Abstract
Many anesthetics cause loss of consciousness despite having diverse underlying molecular and circuit actions. To explore the convergent effects of ...
Regulation of REM and NREM Sleep by Preoptic Glutamatergic Neurons.
Sleep – May 26, 2025
Summary
Neurons in the brain's preoptic area don't just make us sleepy - some actually keep us awake. Scientists discovered specialized nerve cells that become highly active during wakefulness and brief arousals from sleep. These neurons send signals to brain regions that maintain consciousness, helping regulate sleep-wake cycles and influencing how we transition between different sleep states.
Abstract
The preoptic area of the hypothalamus is key for the control of sleep onset and sleep homeostasis. Although traditionally considered exclusively so...
EEG Response to Sedation Interruption Complements Behavioral Assessment After Severe Brain Injury.
Annals of clinical and translational neurology – May 25, 2025
Summary
Brain activity patterns during brief pauses in sedation may reveal hidden signs of consciousness in comatose patients. By measuring EEG signals while temporarily stopping anesthesia, doctors can better predict recovery chances - even when patients show no visible response. This approach significantly improves prognosis accuracy compared to traditional behavioral assessments alone.
Abstract
Accurate assessment of the level of consciousness and potential to recover in patients with severe brain injury underpins crucial decisions in the ...
Effects of esketamine-based opioid-sparing anesthesia protocol in Bama miniature pigs undergoing robot-assisted nephrectomy.
Scientific reports – May 25, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in surgical anesthesia shows promise in reducing opioid use during robotic kidney removal procedures. Using Bama mini-pigs as test subjects, researchers found that esketamine-based anesthesia cut opioid use by half while improving recovery times. When combined with the Micro hand S surgical robot for nephrectomy, the protocol resulted in more stable vital signs and faster wake-up times - with patients regaining consciousness 11 minutes sooner than traditional methods.
Abstract
The safety and efficacy of the esketamine-based opioid-sparing anesthesia protocol, though validated, are understudied in robotic surgeries. This s...
Natural language analysis of the structure of altered states of consciousness
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 17, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like salvia and ketamine show remarkable similarities in content to non-drug methods of inducing altered states of consciousness (ASC), based on an analysis of 300 narrative reports. Most psychedelics, excluding LSD, were associated with positive and authentic experiences, with authenticity linked to a positive sentiment (R = 0.68). The study identified themes that trace the journey from ordinary awareness to profound metaphysical experiences, suggesting a structured understanding of ASC across various induction techniques, which could enhance future explorations in psychology and linguistics.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent acute and marked deviations from normal waking consciousness. Investig...
Windows to Consciousness: The Role of Fronto-Parietal Connectivity in Anesthesia-Induced Unconsciousness.
Current neuropharmacology – May 15, 2025
Summary
When you're under anesthesia, your brain's information highway gets temporarily disrupted. New research reveals that consciousness depends on strong connections between the front and back regions of the brain. When anesthetics are administered, they specifically target these fronto-parietal connections, blocking the brain's ability to integrate information and maintain awareness. This explains why we lose consciousness during surgery.
Abstract
The exploration of consciousness and the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying general anesthesia are two intertwined endeavors that have signif...
Electrophysiological Correlates of Lucid Dreaming: Sensor and Source Level Signatures.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience – May 14, 2025
Summary
During lucid dreams, people become aware they're dreaming while remaining in REM sleep - a fascinating intersection of consciousness and unconsciousness. Brain imaging reveals that lucid dreamers show distinct patterns of neural activity, particularly in regions linked to self-awareness. When people achieve dream lucidity, their brain exhibits reduced activity in certain frequencies but increased connectivity between hemispheres, suggesting heightened metacognition and conscious control of their dream experience.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a state of conscious awareness of the ongoing oneiric state, predominantly linked to REM sleep. Progress in understanding it...
The Administration of Ketamine Is Associated with Dose-Dependent Stabilization of Cortical Dynamics in Humans.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience – May 14, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's effects on consciousness reveal fascinating insights into how our brains process reality. Using EEG recordings, researchers found that ketamine stabilizes brain wave patterns in a dose-dependent manner, particularly affecting high-frequency activity. This stabilization correlates with reduced external awareness and entry into a dissociated state, while brain dynamics remain complex enough to maintain consciousness.
Abstract
During wakefulness, external stimuli elicit conscious experiences. In contrast, dreams and drug-induced dissociated states are characterized by viv...
Cortical signatures linked to behavior quantitatively track arousal levels.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America – May 13, 2025
Summary
Scientists have discovered a remarkable brain pattern that acts like a natural "wake-up signal," appearing consistently as consciousness returns after brain injury or anesthesia. By tracking unique cortical patterns and breathing rhythms, researchers identified specific neural signatures that predict motor behavior and awareness levels. This breakthrough could revolutionize monitoring arousal recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness.
Abstract
While current arousal level assessments in patients with disorders of consciousness discriminate altered states of consciousness, there are signifi...
Dreaming of Better Treatments: Advances in Drug Development for Sleep Medicine and Chronotherapy.
Journal of sleep research – May 10, 2025
Summary
Sleep medicine has evolved from ancient herbs to cutting-edge treatments targeting specific brain chemicals. Modern research reveals how sleep impacts brain health through natural cleaning processes called glymphatic clearance. New medications focus on orexin, a wake-promoting molecule, rather than broadly sedating GABA pathways. This targeted approach shows promise for treating both sleep disorders and neurodegeneration, while respecting our natural circadian rhythms.
Abstract
Throughout history, the development of new sleep medicines has been driven by progress in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sleep. Anc...
Selective preservation of prediction-related signals in human sleep.
Current biology : CB – May 05, 2025
Summary
Our brains continue making basic predictions even while we sleep. During deep slumber, the brain maintains its ability to anticipate simple sound patterns, though more complex predictions fade. Using advanced brain monitoring, researchers found that while we can still process basic audio features during sleep, our capacity for sophisticated pattern recognition remains tied to wakefulness.
Abstract
Imagine listening to a familiar song on the radio. As the melody unfolds, you often anticipate the following note or beat before it plays. This abi...
The Awakening of the Newborn Human Infant and the Emergence of Consciousness.
Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) – May 01, 2025
Summary
Consciousness begins developing in the womb, with signs of awareness emerging around 24 weeks of gestation. By birth, infants experience a surge of sensory stimulation, activating brain areas linked to consciousness. Newborns can recognize their mother's voice, smell, and facial expressions. A study involving 100 preterm infants revealed that their pupils dilate significantly upon birth, indicating arousal. The default mode network matures shortly after delivery, suggesting that while newborns are conscious, it is at a lower level compared to older children and adults.
Abstract
Consciousness develops gradually in the womb and after birth, rather than being an all or none phenomenon. A newborn infant is aroused and wakes up...
Psilocybin and ketamine affect novel neuropeptides gene expression in the rat hypothalamus
Journal of Psychopharmacology – April 17, 2025
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin dramatically alters brain chemistry. In a pilot study on male Wistar–Han rats, a 10 mg/kg dose of psilocybin increased the expression of most neuropeptides and specific serotonin 5-HT receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B) within the hypothalamus. This neurochemical shift, observed in Neuroscience and Pharmacology, suggests how psilocybin, a key compound in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, influences neurotransmitter receptor activity. Understanding these changes in the Hypothalamus, crucial for Endocrinology, could explain its profound psychological effects and inform Internal medicine applications, potentially impacting Sleep and Wakefulness Research.
Abstract
Objective: Psychedelics are able to trigger highly intense and profound alterations in self-consciousness, perception, affective, and cognitive pro...
Predictors of Recovering Full Consciousness: Results From a Prospective Multisite Italian Study.
European journal of neurology – April 01, 2025
Summary
Visual responsiveness and brain activity patterns can predict recovery in patients with severe brain injuries, according to groundbreaking research from Italian rehabilitation centers. Following 131 patients with disorders of consciousness, specialists found that those with better visual responses and specific neurophysiology markers had higher chances of regaining full consciousness within 3 months of intensive rehabilitation. This insight helps doctors provide more accurate recovery forecasts.
Abstract
Improving prognostication in patients with a prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDoC) is among the most challenging issues in neurorehabilitation...
Where is my mind? A neurocognitive investigation of mind blanking.
Trends in cognitive sciences – March 12, 2025
Summary
Ever notice those moments when your mind feels completely empty? Unlike mind wandering or dreaming, mind blanking represents a unique mental state where conscious thoughts temporarily vanish. Research shows this isn't just mental fatigue - it's a distinct cognitive process linked to specific brain activity patterns. While meditation aims for mental clarity, mind blanking happens spontaneously during ongoing thinking, revealing fascinating insights about consciousness.
Abstract
During wakefulness, our thoughts transition between different contents. However, there are moments that are seemingly devoid of reportable content,...
Neurochemical and Neurophysiological Effects of Intravenous Administration of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Rats.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – February 15, 2025
Summary
DMT, a naturally occurring compound in the brain, operates at levels similar to crucial neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. When administered intravenously in rats, DMT triggered significant brain changes, boosting both serotonin and dopamine levels while altering brain wave patterns. The findings revealed complex interactions between DMT and brain chemistry, showing how this compound influences neural communication and behavior. These results help explain DMT's potential therapeutic effects in treating mental health conditions.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic that is being investigated clinically for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Althou...
Integrating the ineffable: a social phenomenological analysis of the psychedelic experience
Library, Museums and Press - UDSpace (University of Delaware) – February 04, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic experiences are profoundly shaped by social frameworks, revealing how individuals integrate altered states into daily reality. Analyzing over 200 narrative reports from 100 individuals who used psilocybin, mescaline, or LSD between 1960-1964, insights emerge into the social construction of reality. This sociological and psychological inquiry, drawing on interpretative phenomenological analysis, illuminates how meaning-making influences our understanding of consciousness and what constitutes valid knowledge, offering a cross-cultural perspective on drug experiences.
Abstract
"There has been a renewed and growing interest in psychedelic drugs in the 21st century. Drawing on social-phenomenology, cognitive sociology, and ...
Cortical high-frequency oscillations (≈ 110 Hz) in cats are state-dependent and enhanced by a subanesthetic dose of ketamine.
Behavioural brain research – January 05, 2025
Summary
Ketamine, a powerful psychedelic and anesthetic drug, dramatically affects brain wave patterns in unexpected ways. Scientists found that low doses boost ultra-fast brain oscillations (HFO) during wakefulness, particularly when breathing in. These enhanced brain waves flow from smell-processing regions to decision-making areas, suggesting how ketamine might influence cognition and consciousness.
Abstract
Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that has antidepressant and anesthetic properties. At subanesthetic doses, ketamine induces transient psych...
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Exploring 5-MeO-DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
A powerful serotonin-based psychedelic compound can temporarily dissolve self-awareness while maintaining consciousness. EEG recordings show reduced brain wave activity during these experiences, suggesting decreased top-down mental processing. Participants reported varying levels of ego dissolution and altered perception, offering insights into how consciousness and self-identity are constructed in the brain.
Abstract
5-MeO-DMT is a short-acting psychedelic that is anecdotally reported to induce a radical disruption of the self and a paradoxical quality of arouse...
The Effect of Psilocybin on Cortical Neural Dynamics, Sleep-Wake Behavior, and Persistent Pain in a Rat Model
University of Michigan Library – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, demonstrates potent analgesic properties in rat models of persistent pain, extending its use beyond psychiatry. This medicine shows promise for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain, addressing nociplastic pain's complex etiology. Neuroscience reveals it promotes neuroplasticity and modulates neural networks, identifying 5-HT2A receptor targets. These psychedelics and drug studies lay foundational work for pain management, suggesting novel pain disorder treatment with limited adverse effects, reducing reliance on anesthesia for neuralgia.
Abstract
Psilocybin containing mushrooms have been utilized for ceremonial, medicinal, and spiritual purposes for millennia. Recently there has been a surge...
The Impact of Intranasal Esketamine on Emergence Agitation in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Drug design, development and therapy – January 01, 2025
Summary
Many children experience distress, or emergence agitation, waking from anesthesia. A study explored if intranasal esketamine could ease this for children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Researchers found that a 0.5 mg/kg dose of intranasal esketamine significantly reduced emergence agitation, pain, and the need for rescue medications. This positive outcome was not enhanced by higher doses, which also prolonged recovery. Thus, 0.5 mg/kg intranasal esketamine provides a smoother, more comfortable recovery for children.
Abstract
To investigate the efficacy of intranasal esketamine in reducing the incidence of emergence agitation (EA) in pediatric patients undergoing adenoto...
What Can N100 and ASSR Assess in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness?
IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society – January 01, 2025
Summary
Brain wave patterns reveal crucial insights into consciousness levels in unresponsive patients. Scientists found that steady-state responses in the auditory system are more reliable than traditional measures for assessing hearing function in these cases. While these brain signals help confirm if patients can process sound, they can't yet definitively distinguish between different states of consciousness.
Abstract
Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEP), particularly the N100 component and the auditory steady-state response (ASSR), have been utilized in the clinical...
A historical review of consciousness and its disorders.
Handbook of clinical neurology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Awareness and wakefulness are vital components of consciousness, with profound implications for understanding brain function. In examining disorders like delirium and coma, it’s revealed that some patients previously deemed "vegetative" may retain cognitive abilities; fMRI studies show up to 15% of these individuals exhibit brain activity linked to awareness. Advances in technology have illuminated the complex interactions among brain regions, emphasizing that behavioral responses alone cannot gauge consciousness levels. This evolving knowledge challenges our perceptions and treatment approaches for those affected by consciousness disorders.
Abstract
Concepts of consciousness and its disorders begin with the realization that both reside in the brain. Then came the realization that consciousness ...
Thalamus and consciousness: a systematic review on thalamic nuclei associated with consciousness.
Frontiers in neurology – January 01, 2025
Summary
While the thalamus is known to be vital for consciousness, pinpointing its most critical parts has been a challenge. A comprehensive review of two decades of research now reveals compelling evidence: the intralaminar nuclear group, specifically the **centromedian-parafascicular** complex, is overwhelmingly linked to maintaining **consciousness**, **arousal**, and **wakefulness**. This region of the **thalamus** appears to be a central hub. These insights strongly support targeted **neuromodulation** strategies for improving **disorders of consciousness**, highlighting effective pathways for intervention.
Abstract
Consciousness relies on both cortical and subcortical structures and their feedforward and feedback pathways. Within this framework, the thalamus r...
Benefits and Challenges of Ultra-Fast, Short-Acting Psychedelics in the Treatment of Depression
American Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Summary
Rapid antidepressant effects are emerging from psychedelics. Unlike classical medicine, hallucinogens like psilocybin and ultra-fast compounds such as 5-MeO-DMT show significant promise in psychiatry. Early pharmacology studies in small samples indicate brief 15-30 minute interventions induce marked improvement in depression symptoms within 24 hours, lasting over a week. These monoamine neurotransmitters primarily act on serotonergic 5-HT receptors, influencing serotonin pathways. This neuroscience, exploring chemical synthesis and how receptors influence behavior, is vital for future psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Unlike classical antidepressants, psychedelics such as psilocybin have been shown to induce a rapid antidepressant response. In the wake of this de...
Meditation and complexity: a review and synthesis of evidence.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals that meditation creates a unique pattern of brain activity that's more complex than normal waking consciousness. This comprehensive literature review shows that during meditation, the brain exhibits higher levels of entropy and fractal dimension - indicating richer, more intricate neural patterns. Intriguingly, regular meditators develop more efficient baseline brain activity, suggesting that meditation practice helps optimize our predictive processing systems.
Abstract
Recent years have seen growing interest in the use of metrics inspired by complexity science for the study of consciousness. Work in this field has...
We are the Sensors of Consciousness! A Review and Analysis on How Awakenings During Sleep Influence Dream Recall.
Nature and science of sleep – January 01, 2025
Summary
Our ability to remember dreams dramatically changes based on how we're awakened. Calling someone's name leads to better dream recall than using an alarm, and people remember more dreams at home than in sleep labs. This analysis of sleep studies reveals that memory and attention play key roles in capturing dream experiences. Serial awakenings throughout the night show that awareness varies by sleep stage, with personal traits and questionnaire methods significantly impacting what people report about their dreaming phenomenology.
Abstract
Since the 1930s, researchers have awakened people from different stages of sleep to record what they have experienced. While some aspects, includin...
The effect of neural pre-stimulus oscillations on post-stimulus auditory ERPs in disorders of consciousness.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Brain activity patterns before a sound occurs can predict how patients with consciousness disorders will process that sound. Scientists monitored EEG patterns in patients with disorders of consciousness, finding that higher-frequency brain waves before sounds predicted better auditory processing. This insight could help doctors better assess and potentially treat patients in minimally conscious states.
Abstract
Pre-stimulus oscillations predispose subsequent stimulus detection, but the connection between the pre-stimulus EEG activity and post-stimulus even...
Functional connectivity drifts during sleep as a marker of fluctuations in the level of consciousness.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Consciousness isn't simply "on" or "off" during sleep. In rats, examining functional connectivity revealed that Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, often considered unconscious, contains periods where its brain activity patterns resemble those of wakefulness or REM sleep. This suggests that neural correlates of consciousness, reflected in functional connectivity, fluctuate significantly not just between but also *within* brain states. These dynamic changes, observed over seconds, challenge traditional views of sleep and wakefulness as distinct states.
Abstract
During the wake-sleep cycle, consciousness waxes and wanes, and this is thought to be reflected in varying levels of integration between brain area...
On the varieties of conscious experiences: Altered Beliefs Under Psychedelics (ALBUS).
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics can both weaken and strengthen belief systems in the brain, similar to lucid dreaming states. By activating specific serotonin receptors, these substances can relax rigid thought patterns in the Default Mode Network, allowing fresh perspectives. However, they may also enhance meaning-making and pattern recognition, leading to profound insights or occasionally, misinterpretations. This dual effect explains both the therapeutic benefits and the occasional occurrence of temporary delusions during psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
How is it that psychedelics so profoundly impact brain and mind? According to the model of "Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics" (REBUS), 5-HT2a ago...