Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
May 29, 2026
Andrew Stewart Caldin
A high-dimensional geometric framework called E8 can encode the coupled dynamics of serotonin-2A receptor activation and dopamine pathways relevant to cocaine addiction. Embedding clinical data on psilocybin and cocaine into this model allows rapid classical simulations that predict therapeutic outcomes, potentially enabling faster optimization of dosing protocols. The original finding suggests that psilocybin could be an effective treatment for cocaine addiction.
Translational psychiatry
May 26, 2026
Marvin M Urban, Lea Zillich, Nathalie M Rieser et al.
1 citation
In a pilot study of 37 detoxified patients with alcohol use disorder, psilocybin (25 mg) produced changes in DNA methylation across the genome compared to placebo. One methylation site in the TLE4 gene and a differentially methylated region in RASGRP4 were linked to psilocybin treatment. Co-methylation networks related to psilocybin were associated with reductions in depressive symptoms and drinking behavior, and gene analysis pointed to involvement in neuroplasticity and immune functions. The primary trial endpoints—duration of abstinence and mean alcohol use—were not reached, so the analysis focused on secondary psychometrics. The findings suggest immunomodulatory actions of psilocybin but are limited by the modest sample size.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 22, 2026
Jamie Walker, Daryle Deering, Bruno Hamish Unger
Ten opioid-dependent people in New Zealand who used ibogaine for detoxification described rapid withdrawal relief, improved mood, reduced anxiety, and periods of sustained abstinence, though some later relapsed. Participants were motivated by desperation to be opioid-free and sought ibogaine because of limited treatment options beyond opioid substitution therapy. They emphasized the importance of safety practices, medical screening, and post-treatment psychosocial support for positive outcomes. The study identified seven themes including motivations, treatment effects on depression and anxiety, and spiritual effects. Ibogaine is legally available by prescription in New Zealand, providing a unique context for understanding user experiences.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
May 14, 2026
Ramin Bidari
Addiction is often explained as a disorder of the brain's reward system, but this article argues that the search for meaning, identity, and existential peace also drives addictive cycles. It proposes an interdisciplinary framework combining neuroscience, philosophy of consciousness, and spirituality, suggesting that the neocortex assigns meaning to pleasurable experiences originally evolved for survival, trapping individuals in repetitive patterns of desire, memory, and anticipation. The authors distinguish between obsessive pleasure and the joy and peace arising from a direct, non-conditioned form of consciousness called energetic consciousness, contending that lasting fulfillment comes not from intensifying reward cycles but from experiencing awareness itself.
Science
May 7, 2026
A small study focusing on Black and low-income participants produced results described as remarkable.
Accountability in research
May 1, 2026
Katherine Cheung, Rebecca Ehrenkranz, Brian D Earp et al.
Several proposals across fields suggest including independent actors in research to manage bias, such as independent auditors for adverse events in psychedelic science or independent researchers in trial teams. However, the concept of independence is often undefined. While introducing independent actors seems beneficial for reducing bias and improving rigor, it may also have significant drawbacks. The authors argue that the implicit sense of independence is freedom from influences that could reduce the trustworthiness or accuracy of findings. They explore whether such actors can be identified without trade-offs with other scientific goals, like expertise. Two models from law and science are offered to guide incorporation of independent actors.