5439 results for "Psychedelics"
A review of common psychedelic drugs
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia – November 19, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics, once dismissed as drugs of abuse, are experiencing a significant medical resurgence. With a history over 10,000 years, these substances saw clinical use in the 1950s and 60s before widespread prohibition. Current drug studies reveal their immense therapeutic value, particularly as adjuncts to psychotherapy for conditions like addiction. This comprehensive review explores the chemical synthesis and biochemical analysis of psychedelics, detailing classifications, effects, and bodily interactions. Psychiatry and psychology are keenly observing this shift, recognizing their potential for novel patient care.
Abstract
Psychedelic substances have traditionally been used in medicine and religious rituals. Their use dates back thousands of years with fossil evidence...
Psychedelic compounds directly excite 5-HT 2A Layer 5 Pyramidal Neurons in the Prefrontal Cortex through a 5-HT 2A Gq -mediated activation mechanism
OpenAlex – November 15, 2022
Summary
A compelling neuroscience finding reveals psilocin, a serotonergic psychedelic, powerfully increases firing in all identified serotonin 5-HT2A receptor neurons within the prefrontal cortex. Utilizing electrophysiology and biochemical analysis, 10 μM psilocin acted as an agonist, influencing neurotransmission. This provides critical insight for psychedelics and drug studies, impacting brain regions like the infralimbic cortex. The chemistry and biophysics of these receptor interactions are key to understanding psilocin's effects and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Summary Psilocin, the active compound in Psilocybe sp . mushrooms, is a serotonergic psychedelic that has recently gained renewed interest due to i...
Exploring the first use of psychedelic macrodoses in Latin American adults: Sociodemographic profiles, consumption factors, and subjective experiences
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – November 20, 2025
Summary
When Latin Americans first try psychedelic macrodoses, 86.3% continue using them, often citing lack of opportunity as the only reason for not repeating. A survey of 4,810 adults found psilocybin mushrooms (57.6%) and LSD (33.3%) were most common, primarily for recreational (70.5%) or spiritual (21.6%) purposes. Most consumed with friends (65.7%). Psilocybin was linked to introspection, MDMA to empathy. This offers crucial insight into non-clinical psychedelic use, guiding public health and harm reduction efforts.
Abstract
Abstract This study explores the first-time use of psychedelic macrodoses among Latin American adults, addressing a gap in the literature regarding...
Psychedelics and Immunomodulation: Novel Approaches and Therapeutic Opportunities
Frontiers in Immunology – July 14, 2015
Summary
Classical psychedelics may hold significant promise for treating chronic inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases. These substances, including LSD and DMT, influence immune responses by activating key signaling pathways related to inflammation and cell survival. Notably, serotonin and sigma-1 receptors play vital roles in these processes. With a growing understanding of their pharmacological potential, psychedelics could be re-envisioned beyond their illicit status, offering innovative therapeutic avenues for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics are psychoactive substances, which, besides their psychopharmacological activity, have also been shown to exert significant ...
Effect of LSD and music on the time-varying brain dynamics.
Psychopharmacology – July 01, 2023
Summary
Music and LSD together create unique patterns in brain activity, with music's effects lingering even after it stops playing. When combined with psychedelics, music shifts how different brain networks communicate, particularly in areas responsible for sensory processing and self-reflection. Using advanced clustering techniques, researchers found that brain states during rest were notably influenced by earlier music exposure, especially under LSD's effects.
Abstract
Psychedelics are getting closer to being widely used in clinical treatment. Music is known as a key element of psychedelic-assisted therapy due to ...
Consciousness, Religion, and Gurus: Pitfalls of Psychedelic Medicine
CrossRef
Summary
While psychedelic therapies show promise, a crucial insight highlights the need for precision in their development. Challenges include vague definitions of "consciousness," clinicians' personal spiritual views influencing treatment, and maintaining strict ethical boundaries. Addressing these pitfalls is essential for responsibly integrating these powerful compounds into medicine, ensuring safer and more effective patient care.
Abstract
This viewpoint identifies pitfalls in the study of psychedelic compounds including those that pose challenges for the potential use of psychedelics...
The potential of psychedelic medicine - A personal account.
Journal of the neurological sciences – March 15, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics were once explored as therapeutic drugs before criminalization halted research. A toxicologist, living in Haight Ashbury in 1965, studied compounds like LSD, observing their early use for conditions such as addiction. Despite initial promise, negative publicity led to Schedule 1 classification, suppressing exploration of these entheogens and entactogens. This historical account suggests a significant, untapped potential for recovery, highlighting how early therapeutic applications were sidelined.
Abstract
In 1965, I was training in clinical toxicology in the pharmacology department of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and living in th...
A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogue with therapeutic potential.
Nature – January 01, 2021
Summary
Psychedelic compounds show promise for addiction treatment but pose risks like hallucinations. Researchers have engineered tabernanthalog, a non-hallucinogenic, non-toxic analogue of ibogaine. In rodent models, this innovative molecule promoted brain cell growth and connections, significantly reduced alcohol and heroin seeking, and demonstrated antidepressant-like effects. This breakthrough suggests that carefully designed, safer psychedelics could offer therapeutic potential for substance use disorders and mood conditions.
Abstract
The psychedelic alkaloid ibogaine has anti-addictive properties in both humans and animals1. Unlike most medications for the treatment of substance...
Psychedelic fungi
Current Biology – June 01, 2025
Summary
The fungal kingdom hides a potent secret: psychedelic alkaloids like psilocybin and ibotenic acid, products of intricate chemical synthesis found across multiple fungal phyla, including Psilocybe and Amanita. These compounds interact with diverse brain neurotransmitter receptors, a critical area in drug studies exploring human biology, including those on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Evolutionary biology reveals their patchy distribution, often due to horizontal gene transfer, suggesting roles in deterring predators or facilitating spore dispersal. This biological complexity offers profound scientific opportunities.
Abstract
Several species of fungi, collectively known as 'psychedelic fungi', produce a range of psychoactive substances, such as psilocybin, ibotenic acid,...
Classic Psychedelics in Pain Modulation: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Future Perspectives
ACS Chemical Neuroscience – June 06, 2025
Summary
Millions worldwide suffer chronic pain, often with depression. Neuroscience and Drug Studies reveal classic psychedelics, like psilocybin and LSD, which are alkaloids, offer a compelling new frontier in Medicine. These substances, influencing neuroplasticity and primarily acting on serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, appear to modulate pain perception and mood. Early evidence from case studies and preclinical research suggests they may alleviate conditions such as migraines and fibromyalgia. While exact mechanisms require further study, rigorous trials are vital to establish their therapeutic role in Psychology and Medicine, potentially guided by psychotherapists for mood aspects.
Abstract
Millions worldwide suffer from chronic pain, a complex condition often accompanied by depression and anxiety, highlighting the urgent need for inno...
Psychedelics and Eating Disorders: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential for Anorexia Nervosa and Beyond
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – March 07, 2025
Summary
Conventional medicine often fails patients with severe Anorexia nervosa, a challenging psychiatric eating disorder. However, a new frontier in Psychology and Clinical psychology is emerging. Psychedelics and Drug Studies, exploring compounds from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, show promise. These substances influence Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, potentially disrupting maladaptive circuits implicated in Anorexia and Bulimia nervosa. Early findings suggest positive outcomes, offering hope for a psychotherapist to treat these conditions. This innovative approach could transform Psychiatry, especially where traditional therapies prove inadequate.
Abstract
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by extreme food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted b...
Serotonergic Psychedelics Rapidly Modulate Evoked Glutamate Release in Cultured Cortical Neurons
Journal of Neurochemistry – February 28, 2025
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics like LSD rapidly alter how primary rat cortical neurons communicate. This Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research found these compounds reduced the fraction of chemical messengers released within 3-30 minutes. This transient effect, gone after 24 hours, varied. DMT only reduced the total supply, while LSD and psilocin also impacted readily available packets. Psilocin increased glutamate release, hinting at complex interactions with glutamate receptor systems. Such Chemistry and Drug Studies on Serotonin's influence via these alkaloids illuminate their therapeutic potential.
Abstract
ABSTRACT The serotonergic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD and DMT hold great promise for the development of new treatments for psychiatric conditions ...
Prolonged adverse effects from repeated psilocybin use in an underground psychedelic therapy training program: a case report
BMC Psychiatry – February 28, 2025
Summary
Profound tensions emerge in **Psychology** and **Psychiatry** concerning **Psilocybin** and other **Hallucinogen** use. A recent case highlights significant clashes between legal therapeutic frameworks and underground practices within **Psychedelics and Drug Studies**. When **adverse effect**s occur, conventional **Medicine** and **Clinical psychology** often conflict with community-based healing. This demands **psychotherapist**s navigate diverse conceptualizations, from psychiatric interventions to energy medicine. Such complexities span **diverse academic research themes**, underscoring the importance of understanding **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** in these contexts.
Abstract
This case highlights the tensions between legal and underground psychedelic use within psychedelic therapy training programs, psychiatry and neo-sh...
Shame, Guilt and Psychedelic Experience: Results from a Prospective, Longitudinal Survey of Real-World Psilocybin Use
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 07, 2025
Summary
A significant 68.2% of 679 adults reported acute shame or guilt during psilocybin experiences, a potent hallucinogen. While challenging, working through these feelings predicted better psychological wellbeing weeks later. This finding, relevant to clinical psychology and psychiatry, reveals how psilocybin can impact shame, a core emotion in psychology. Overall, the alkaloid produced a small decrease in trait shame (Cohen's dz = 0.37) maintained for months, though shame increased for 29.8%. These insights from psychedelics and drug studies highlight complex psychological responses.
Abstract
The classic psychedelic psilocybin has attracted special interest across clinical and non-clinical settings as a potential tool for mental health. ...
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...
Current Trends in Psychedelic Science: Integrating Modified Lysergic Acid Derivatives and Psilocybin in Modern Medicine
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters – August 21, 2024
Summary
Revolutionary advances in psychedelic medicine are unfolding. Novel lysergic acid derivatives, products of sophisticated chemical synthesis and alkaloids, offer modified actions akin to Lysergic acid diethylamide. Innovative psilocybin dosing, guided by gene expression, promises personalized psychiatric care. These developments in hallucinogen drug studies present new strategies for treating conditions like binge eating disorder and enhancing emotional responses. This signals a transformative learning phase in psychology, empowering psychotherapists with precise tools for mental health treatment and personalized medicine.
Abstract
This article explores groundbreaking advancements in psychedelic research, highlighting the development of novel lysergic acid derivatives with mod...
Psychedelic therapy in depression and substance use disorders
European Journal of Neuroscience – May 21, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline, used for millennia in various cultural contexts, are revolutionizing psychiatry. Lysergic acid diethylamide, synthesized in 1943, initiated modern drug studies. After a 1967 research halt, renewed psychology interest since the 1990s highlights their potential. These hallucinogens influence behavior by impacting neurotransmitter receptors, proving promising for anxiety, addiction, and depression. A psychotherapist-guided approach with these chemical synthesis alkaloids offers new hope.
Abstract
Abstract Psychoactive substances obtained from botanicals have been applied for a wide variety of purposes in the rituals of different cultures for...
Beyond Psilocybin: Reviewing the Therapeutic Potential of Other Serotonergic Psychedelics in Mental and Substance Use Disorders
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – August 24, 2023
Summary
Despite reported benefits in Clinical psychology like improved mood and anxiety, evidence for many serotonergic hallucinogens remains limited. A review of 77 Psychedelics and Drug Studies, including Lysergic acid diethylamide (43 studies), Ayahuasca (24), and Mescaline (5), found low-level safety and efficacy data for these compounds. Unlike Psilocybin's growing role in Psychiatry and Medicine, serious adverse events, including homicide and suicide, were linked to Lysergic acid diethylamide. Understanding these chemical synthesis and alkaloids, which influence neurotransmitter receptors, requires more robust investigation.
Abstract
There has been a resurgence of interest in the use of psychedelic therapies for several mental and substance use disorders. Psilocybin, a "classic"...
A Brief Review on the Potential of Psychedelics for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Depression
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – August 07, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding suggests psychedelics could significantly alleviate the burden of Alzheimer's disease, a prevalent dementia affecting our aging population. These drug studies indicate their unique mechanism of action, primarily as serotonin receptor agonists, may offer crucial psychiatric benefits. By modulating pathways linked to tryptophan and brain disorders, this medicine could attenuate depressive symptoms often associated with the disease. Reviews of preclinical and clinical findings highlight the potential for novel treatments via chemical synthesis, targeting the disease's psychological pathology.
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of senile dementia, is poised to place an even greater societal and healthcare burden as the populat...
Psychedelics: Threshold of a Therapeutic Revolution
Neuropharmacology – May 27, 2023
Summary
Remarkable progress in just five years has transformed the landscape for psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, in Medicine. Psychiatry and Psychology are exploring its therapeutic potential, with the FDA granting two breakthrough therapy designations for conditions like major depression. Ongoing Psychedelics and Drug Studies are evaluating psilocybin for cancer-related Anxiety and other disorders. This reflects growing understanding of how these chemical compounds influence neurotransmitter receptors, offering new avenues for psychotherapists. The global implications for mainstream therapies are significant, moving these alkaloids from bench to bedside.
Abstract
This Special Issue of Neuropharmacology on psychedelics provides a timely and comprehensive update on progress following the previous Neuropharmaco...
Microdosing with classical psychedelics: Research trajectories and practical considerations
Transcultural Psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
Microdosing, the use of minute amounts of psychedelics, is claimed to enhance creativity and mood. Psychology explores how substances like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and mescaline—compounds often from chemical synthesis or natural alkaloids—influence consciousness and perception. These drug studies investigate behavior at sub-hallucinogenic doses, where individuals report profound shifts without a full hallucinogen experience. Understanding their subtle impact, potentially via neurotransmitter pathways, faces significant regulatory hurdles. The field aims to distinguish genuine effects from expectation.
Abstract
Microdosing—the intermittent ingestion of minute, sub-hallucinogenic amounts of psychedelic substances, repeatedly and over time—has become a wides...
Psychedelic Drugs in Mental Disorders: Current Clinical Scope and Deep Learning‐Based Advanced Perspectives
Advanced Science – March 20, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, show renewed promise in Psychiatry for treating conditions like anxiety and major depressive disorder. Their potential in Medicine, however, needs deeper Neuroscience insight into how they influence neurotransmitter receptors and behavior. Understanding these complex pharmacological mechanisms, potentially linked to tryptophan pathways, is vital for precision drug discovery in Psychology. Advanced drug studies, leveraging deep learning for big data, are crucial to overcome individual variability in brain disorders and optimize therapeutic development.
Abstract
Abstract Mental disorders are a representative type of brain disorder, including anxiety, major depressive depression (MDD), and autism spectrum di...
Extended difficulties following the use of psychedelic drugs: A mixed methods study
PLoS ONE – October 24, 2023
Summary
Extended adverse experiences following psychedelic use can endure for years, a crucial finding for medicine and psychiatry. Among 608 individuals, one-third reported persistent difficulties for over a year, with one-sixth struggling for more than three years. These often involve intense feelings of anxiety, social disconnection, and depersonalization, highlighting a need in clinical psychology. Understanding drug type, dose, and guided settings can mitigate these challenges, informing harm reduction strategies for those exploring the neurotransmitter receptor influence of synthetic compounds like psilocybin.
Abstract
Long-term adverse experiences following psychedelic use can persist for weeks, months, or even years, and are relatively unexplored in psychedelic ...
Three Naturally-Occurring Psychedelics and Their Significance in the Treatment of Mental Health Disorders
Frontiers in Pharmacology – June 28, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics, including psilocybin, show significant promise in psychiatry for pervasive mental health challenges like anxiety. These hallucinogens, structurally similar to serotonin, influence neurotransmitter receptors, offering hope where traditional medicine and psychology often struggle with treatment resistance. Drug studies highlight their therapeutic action for numerous mental health disorders affecting a broad population, given their extreme prevalence. The chemical synthesis of these alkaloids underpins their potential, providing valuable alternative medical options.
Abstract
Classical psychedelics represent a family of psychoactive substances with structural similarities to serotonin and affinity for serotonin receptors...
Developing a short form of the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-SF) in psychedelic samples.
PloS one – January 01, 2024
Summary
The newly developed 12-item Awe Experience Scale Short Form (AWE-SF) effectively measures awe in psychedelic contexts, demonstrating strong correlations with positive emotions and life satisfaction. In five studies involving diverse samples, the AWE-SF maintained the original six-factor structure and showed predictive validity for mystical experiences. Notably, facets like connection and vastness linked to positive emotional states, while accommodation and self-loss correlated with negative experiences. This tool offers a reliable way to assess awe, enhancing understanding of its impact on well-being.
Abstract
This study aimed to develop and validate a short-form version of the AWE-S (AWE-SF) within psychedelic samples, to reduce participant burden while ...
Traumatic Psychedelic Experiences.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – April 29, 2025
Summary
Traumatic psychedelic experiences can lead to significant adverse effects, with up to 20% of users developing post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder after such events. While some individuals may recover quickly, others face prolonged difficulties, including anxiety and sleep disturbances. Factors contributing to these experiences often include feelings of horror and helplessness, unsafe environments, and pre-existing trauma. Understanding the causes and potential outcomes is crucial for minimizing negative impacts and fostering post-traumatic growth in affected individuals.
Abstract
Psychedelic experiences involving extreme feelings of horror, helplessness, and perceived threats can be traumatizing. Traumatic psychedelic experi...
Dosing Psychedelics and MDMA.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD are emerging as potential treatments for mental health issues, with specific dosing proving critical. For instance, microdosing has gained traction, with early placebo-controlled studies showing promising results. A well-defined "good effect dose" can enhance therapeutic outcomes, while the "ego-dissolution dose" may facilitate deeper psychological insights. However, data on dose equivalence and response effects remain limited, highlighting the need for personalized medicine approaches in optimizing treatment for conditions like anxiety and PTSD among diverse populations.
Abstract
Classic psychedelics, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline, and entactogens/empathogens, espec...
Cardiovascular effects and safety of classic psychedelics.
Nature cardiovascular research – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics show potential in treating mental health issues but raise concerns about cardiovascular safety. Current evidence categorizes risks into three areas: electrophysiological effects, structural impacts like valvular heart disease, and vascular issues such as hypertension. Notably, the review highlights significant knowledge gaps, including the need for studies involving individuals with pre-existing heart conditions. Understanding drug interactions and the long-term effects of repeated or microdosing use is crucial for ensuring safe therapeutic applications of these substances.
Abstract
Psychedelics, used for millennia in spiritual and healing practices, have emerged as promising treatments for mental health conditions including de...
Ethical Considerations Regarding Psychedelics for Clinical Pain Research.
Journal of pain research – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics show promise as alternatives for chronic pain management, a condition affecting over 20% of adults in the U.S. Traditional treatments often fall short, leading to interest in these substances despite their Schedule I classification. The National Institutes of Health has begun funding this research, reflecting a shift in perception. Ethical concerns are paramount, especially for vulnerable populations. Navigating regulations from the FDA and DEA is essential, emphasizing the need for collaboration among patients, researchers, and regulatory bodies to ensure safety and integrity in studies.
Abstract
Psychedelics, substances with a long history of cultural and medicinal use, are experiencing a resurgence in clinical research, particularly in psy...
Investigating the relationship between changes in metaphysical beliefs and death anxiety following a significant psychedelic experience.
Death studies – January 01, 2025
Summary
A significant reduction in death anxiety was observed in 155 participants following a psychedelic experience, with 70% reporting decreased anxiety levels. While some individuals experienced increased anxiety, overall trends favored improvement. Notably, changes in belief in panpsychism—a view that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe—were positively correlated with reduced death anxiety. These insights highlight a potential connection between shifts in metaphysical beliefs and attitudes toward death, suggesting intriguing avenues for future exploration in this emerging field.
Abstract
Research examining the potential of the psychedelic experience to alter attitudes toward death is steadily emerging. However, the specific mechanis...
Psychedelic Science, Contemplative Practices, and Indigenous and Other Traditional Knowledge Systems: Towards Integrative Community-Based Approaches in Global Health.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Integrating psychedelic science, contemplative practices, and traditional knowledge systems could transform global health. Evidence shows that these approaches can induce self-transcendent experiences, leading to improved health and prosocial behaviors. For instance, community-based models incorporating these elements may enhance well-being by leveraging the rich ethnobotanical expertise of Indigenous practices. Engaging traditional healers as stakeholders in health systems can ensure that care is culturally relevant and accessible. By co-developing evidence-based integrative models, communities can effectively address physical, psychological, and social challenges.
Abstract
As individuals and communities around the world confront mounting physical, psychological, and social threats, three complimentary mind-body-spirit...
Ethical principles of traditional Indigenous medicine to guide western psychedelic research and practice.
Lancet regional health. Americas – February 01, 2023
Summary
Indigenous leaders emphasize the need for ethical guidelines in the use of traditional medicines within Western psychedelic research. A global consensus involving practitioners and activists identified eight key principles: Reverence, Respect, Responsibility, Relevance, Regulation, Reparation, Restoration, and Reconciliation. This initiative addresses concerns about cultural appropriation and the exclusion of Indigenous voices, representing a significant shift toward integrating traditional ecological knowledge and honoring the sacred nature of these plant medicines. Engaging over 100 participants from diverse backgrounds highlights the urgency of ethical practices in this evolving field.
Abstract
The resurgence of Western psychedelic research and practice has led to increasing concerns from many Indigenous Nations regarding cultural appropri...
Trends in the Top-Cited Articles on Classic Psychedelics
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – February 03, 2021
Summary
A dramatic shift towards clinical application defines recent Psychedelics and Drug Studies. A cohort study of 76 top-cited articles reveals the "Recent Cohort" (post-2010.5) has a median annual citation rate of 76.0, vastly surpassing the "Older Cohort" (10.0). This newer cohort features 68.4% clinical studies, with Psilocybin dominating (65.8%) for potential medicine in Psychiatry and Internal medicine, addressing affective or substance use disorders. Older work (55.3% basic science) explored chemical synthesis and alkaloids and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
This study was designed to identify trends in the top-cited classic psychedelic publications. The top 50 publications on classic psychedelics with ...
Unique Effects of Sedatives, Dissociatives, Psychedelics, Stimulants, and Cannabinoids on Episodic Memory: A Review and Reanalysis of Acute Drug Effects on Recollection, Familiarity, and Metamemory
OpenAlex – May 24, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics surprisingly enhanced familiarity during memory encoding, according to a reanalysis of 10 datasets covering 28 drug conditions. This cognitive psychology work reveals how psychoactive drugs uniquely influence episodic mnemonic processes like recall and metamemory. Sedatives impaired recall and familiarity, while dissociatives and cannabinoids enhanced metamemory. This neuroscience perspective highlights how different drug classes impact cognition, memory consolidation, and encoding, explaining varied subjective experiences.
Abstract
Abstract Despite distinct classes of psychoactive drugs producing putatively unique states of consciousness, there is surprising overlap in terms o...
Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State
Journal of Neuroscience – September 18, 2013
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters consciousness by desynchronizing brain activity. Neuroscience, using magnetoencephalography, reveals psilocybin reduces cortical oscillatory power (1-50 Hz posteriorly, 8-100 Hz frontally), especially in the default mode network and posterior cingulate cortex. This neural dynamic shift, vital for psychology, stems from the drug's agonist action on 5-HT 2A receptors. This neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior suggests psychedelics disrupt brain function, a phenomenon also studied with electroencephalography in drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs produce profound changes in consciousness, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms for this remain unclear. Spontaneous and...
Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research
Journal of Psychopharmacology – July 14, 2019
Summary
Despite widespread claims that microdosing psychedelics, like the alkaloid psilocybin, enhances mood and cognition, scientific understanding remains critically underdeveloped. A review in Psychology and Drug Studies stresses the urgent need for rigorous Pharmacology research, employing biochemical analysis and sensing techniques to quantify both positive and potential negative effects. Future Medicine must move beyond anecdotes, investigating the full impact of these low-dose hallucinogens on biological and cognitive parameters, including risks.
Abstract
Background: In the past few years, the issue of ‘microdosing’ psychedelics has been openly discussed in the public arena where claims have been mad...
Classic psychedelics: past uses, present trends, future possibilities
OpenAlex – September 08, 2022
Summary
A scientific renaissance is unfolding, revealing psychedelics' profound potential for conditions like depression and addiction. Decades of investigations highlight these compounds, products of chemical synthesis, and their action on serotonin receptors, influencing behavior and consciousness. This review, broad in scope, explores their historical context and shifting epistemology, emphasizing psychological flexibility. Cognitive science is advancing through these drug studies, examining how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers surprising efficacy, promising new understandings of the mind.
Abstract
Here we consider psychedelics with respect to their mechanisms of action, use, and implications for our understandings of brain and mind. This revi...
The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – January 01, 2014
Summary
Our normal waking consciousness operates with suppressed brain entropy, just below a "critical" point between order and disorder. Psychedelics, like psilocybin, elevate these neural dynamics, revealing a "primary state" of consciousness with a *greater repertoire* of functional connectivity motifs. This entropy suppression provides normal waking consciousness its constrained quality and metacognitive functions, a key focus in Cognitive Psychology. Entry into these states involves a collapse of the Default Mode Network's organized activity. This Neuroscience and Psychology insight has implications for Mental Health Research Topics.
Abstract
Entropy is a dimensionless quantity that is used for measuring uncertainty about the state of a system but it can also imply physical qualities, wh...
Psychedelics in the treatment of unipolar mood disorders: a systematic review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 18, 2016
Summary
A compelling review of 19 studies involving 423 individuals found that 79.2% experienced clinician-judged improvement in mood disorders after treatment with psychedelics. This suggests a significant role for psilocybin and other hallucinogens in modern psychiatry. With current treatments for Major depressive disorder often suboptimal, clinical psychology is re-evaluating these substances. These drug studies, exploring neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, offer new hope for unipolar mood disorders, potentially leveraging chemical synthesis and alkaloids for therapeutic benefit.
Abstract
Unipolar mood disorders, including major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia), confer high rates of disability and mo...
Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – November 04, 2016
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics, including psilocybin, are emerging as powerful tools in medicine. These hallucinogens show preliminary efficacy against anxiety, addiction, and psychiatric depression, influencing neurotransmitter receptors like 5-HT2A. Neuroscience suggests this mechanism, relevant to psychiatry and psychology, can "reset" brain networks, potentially impacting brain disorders linked to serotonin pathways (derived from tryptophan). Beyond mental health, drug studies reveal their promise against inflammatory diseases. This unique influence on behavior offers new hope for debilitating conditions, opening novel avenues in medicine.
Abstract
Scientific interest in serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin and LSD; 5‐HT 2A receptor agonists) has dramatically increased within the last d...
Structure-based discovery of nonhallucinogenic psychedelic analogs
Science – January 27, 2022
Summary
A breakthrough in pharmacology reveals a path to safer therapies, creating non-hallucinogenic compounds with antidepressant potential. By mapping how Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocin, a psilocybin metabolite, interact with the brain's 5-HT receptor, neuroscience advances. Crucially, serotonin and psilocin exhibit a unique second binding mode. This chemical understanding, vital for drug studies and chemical synthesis, allowed the design of new psychedelics. These compounds, influencing neurotransmitter receptor behavior, showed antidepressant-like activity in mice without hallucinogenic effects, promising targeted treatments for the serotonin receptor.
Abstract
Drugs that target the human serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R) are used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases; however, many have hallucinogenic effect...
Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – March 12, 2020
Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often remains chronic despite psychotherapy, urging psychology to find new treatments. Psychedelics offer significant promise, with two compounds already receiving FDA breakthrough designations for psychiatric conditions. Drug studies are now investigating specific chemical compounds like MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin, LSD, and cannabinoids for PTSD. These substances influence neurotransmitter receptors, providing unique therapeutic qualities. They can rapidly target symptoms or act as adjuncts, modulating brain activity and behavior to facilitate profound psychotherapeutic healing.
Abstract
Abstract There are few medications with demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Treatment guidelines have ...
Navigating the chaos of psychedelic fMRI brain-entropy via multi-metric evaluations of acute psilocybin effects
OpenAlex – July 03, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin's impact on brain entropy is surprisingly nuanced. A study of 121 fMRI scans from 28 participants revealed that while some mathematical metrics, like Shannon entropy, increased, sample entropy showed divergent patterns, and 8 of 13 measures had no significant change. This challenges the idea of universal brain complexity increase, instead highlighting specific neural activity patterns. These neuroscience findings, relevant to cognitive psychology, pattern recognition, underscore the complex interplay of psilocybin with neurotransmitter receptors, deepening psychedelic drug studies and informing artificial intelligence.
Abstract
A prominent theory of psychedelics is that they increase brain entropy. Twelve studies have evaluated psychedelic effects on fMRI brain entropy qua...
Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities
Journal of Psychopharmacology – February 28, 2020
Summary
Individuals microdosing hallucinogens like psilocybin were significantly less likely to report anxiety disorders (OR = 0.61) or substance use disorders (OR = 0.17). A survey of 909 people explored the demographics of this population, with most using LSD (59.3%) or psilocybin (25.9%) at sub-hallucinogenic doses. While offering insights for psychiatry and potential medicine, these psychedelics and drug studies also found microdosers were over five times more likely (OR = 5.2) to use other recreational substances. Understanding these chemical synthesis alkaloids requires biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Rationale: Microdosing psychedelics – the practice of consuming small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of substances such as LSD or psilocybin – is gainin...
Lifetime experience with (classic) psychedelics predicts pro-environmental behavior through an increase in nature relatedness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 20, 2017
Summary
Experience with classic hallucinogens like psilocybin and mescaline strongly predicts pro-environmental behavior, a compelling Psychology finding from a 1,487-person general population study. This effect, relevant to social psychology, is explained by a deeper self-identification with nature, independent of Big Five personality traits such as conscientiousness or openness to experience. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can foster ecological conscientiousness, suggesting unique societal benefits beyond individual mental wellbeing.
Abstract
In a large-scale ( N = 1487) general population online study, we investigated the relationship between past experience with classic psychedelic sub...
Voice of the Psychonauts: Coping, Life Purpose, and Spirituality in Psychedelic Drug Users
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – July 01, 2011
Summary
Psychedelics, including Mescaline and Psilocybin, when used for self-knowledge, correlate positively with enhanced coping and spirituality. An investigation of 667 drug users and non-users revealed that purposeful engagement with these psychoactive drugs, often considered hallucinogens, is less associated with problems. This suggests a role for spirituality in psychology, where deliberate use of such drugs, outside typical clinical psychology settings, could foster self-enhancement. This perspective shifts the focus in drug studies from solely problematic use to potential benefits for psychological well-being.
Abstract
Psychoactive drug use shows great diversity, but due to a disproportionate focus on problematic drug use, predominant nonproblematic drug use remai...
Psychedelics as preventive treatment in headache and chronic pain disorders
Neuropharmacology – June 16, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic drug studies reveal a unique, lasting therapeutic benefit for chronic pain and headache disorders from limited dosing. Unlike conventional medicine, these potent compounds show promise. Emerging drug studies are exploring their neurobiological targets, crucial for understanding their impact in psychiatry and psychology. While a recent psilocybin trial in migraine has limitations, the distinct effects of these substances highlight the importance of understanding their chemical synthesis and action.
Abstract
The effects of psychedelic drugs in headache and chronic pain disorders have been reported for several decades, and now controlled studies are emer...
Exploring protective associations between the use of classic psychedelics and cocaine use disorder: a population-based survey study
Scientific Reports – February 16, 2022
Summary
Strikingly, lifetime peyote use significantly reduces the odds of Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) by over 50% (Odds ratio: 0.47). A comprehensive logistic regression analysis of 214,505 U.S. adults, addressing a major public health and addiction challenge, revealed this finding. While other classic psychedelics showed no such protective effect, peyote also lowered odds for seven of eleven CUD criteria. This insight from drug studies and clinical psychology offers promising directions for medicine and psychiatry in developing new treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) is a significant public health problem associated with elevated morbidity and mortality within the United State...
Neuroimaging Correlates of Treatment Response with Psychedelics in Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Chronic Stress – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca show promise for major depressive disorder, with Neuroimaging revealing crucial brain changes. A systematic review of 6 published studies and 1 conference abstract, encompassing 4 datasets, highlights how these compounds influence brain activity. Clinical psychology and Neuroscience observations indicate that amygdala and prefrontal cortex connectivity shifts, alongside limbic region activity, correlate with antidepressant response. These insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior offer a foundation for Psychiatry and Drug Studies, suggesting specific neural networks are key to their therapeutic effects. Further exploration of these mechanisms is warranted.
Abstract
Preliminary evidence supports the use of psychedelics for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, less attention has been given to the neural mec...
Psychedelics Improve the Mental Health of Rats
The FASEB Journal – April 01, 2019
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin produced long-lasting antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in rats, suggesting a neurochemical basis beyond human psychology. Male Wistar-Kyoto rats (n=8 per group) given psilocybin showed reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviors for over five weeks. Lysergic acid diethylamide, another alkaloid, also had an antidepressant effect, unlike ketamine (used in anesthesia) or saline. This pharmacology insight from psychedelics drug studies indicates a biological foundation for their sustained benefits in medicine and psychiatry, influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin has recently demonstrated profound efficacy to alleviate depression and anxiety in several clinical trials and has received...