5439 results for "Psychedelics"
Comparative oral monotherapy of psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ayahuasca, and escitalopram for depressive symptoms: systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis
BMJ – August 21, 2024
Summary
High-dose psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly outperformed escitalopram for depressive symptoms in a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. This medicine, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, showed a greater effect than 10mg escitalopram (4.66 points) and 20mg (4.69 points). While better than placebo, psilocybin's effect size was small (0.31) when compared to traditional antidepressant trials. Crucially, no severe adverse effect, unlike some psychiatry drugs (e.g., Fluoxetine, Risperidone), was more common than placebo. Such psychedelics and drug studies, including chemical synthesis, are vital for internal medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Objective To evaluate the comparative effectiveness and acceptability of oral monotherapy using psychedelics and escitalopram in patients ...
The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin
Molecules – May 15, 2021
Summary
A 2004 UCLA pilot study exploring psilocybin for advanced cancer patients dramatically reignited interest in this powerful hallucinogen. For decades, research into psilocybin’s therapeutic potential was stifled, largely due to its association with counterculture. Now, modern psychology and psychiatry are embracing psychedelics and drug studies, leveraging advances in chemical synthesis and biochemical analysis. This allows psychotherapists to explore how this ancient alkaloid might transform neuropsychiatric treatment, overcoming past stigmas.
Abstract
The psychedelic effects of some plants and fungi have been known and deliberately exploited by humans for thousands of years. Fungi, particularly m...
Clinical pharmacology.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Did you know understanding the body's interaction with substances like psilocybin and MDMA is vital for their therapeutic potential? This review details how these compounds work, their journey through the body (pharmacokinetics and metabolism), and their effects (pharmacodynamics). Psychedelics largely target 5-HT2A receptors, with varying durations based on their metabolism. MDMA offers unique stimulant and empathogenic effects. Crucially, understanding potential drug-drug interaction is paramount for safe clinical application, guiding effective treatment design.
Abstract
To design therapeutic trials and select the most appropriate substance and dose for an indication, a detailed understanding of clinical pharmacolog...
Cyberdelics in context: On the prospects and challenges of mind-manifesting technologies.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2022
Summary
Digital experiences can be as profound as chemical ones. This analysis explores what **psychedelics** teach us about **cyberdelics** – technologies like **virtual reality** – and their potential for mind-manifestation. It argues that cultural context, or 'set and setting,' is vital. These emerging **imaginaries** aim to move us beyond **consumerism** towards awe and transcendence, highlighting positive pathways despite societal hurdles.
Abstract
The concept of cyberdelics emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as an umbrella term denoting the nexus connecting cybernetic (digital) technologies and p...
Trip Reports
OpenAlex – October 27, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic intoxication follows observable patterns, challenging notions that such experiences are purely mystic. Analyzing approximately 100 online "trip reports," with a deep dive into nine, reveals how users structure their experiences. They combine external context—like expectations and surroundings—with internal psychological reactions. This approach to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, using firsthand accounts, suggests intoxication is a structured experience. These insights could refine harm reduction strategies and further explore the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, moving beyond purely religious interpretations.
Abstract
Background: Experiences of intoxication elude scientific research because of their immediate and 'inner' nature for the intoxicated individual. In ...
Modification of natural tryptamines for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 04, 2025
Summary
Tryptamines, a class of psychedelic substances, have shown promising efficacy in treating neuropsychiatric disorders with minimal adverse effects. Early clinical trials indicate that 70-80% of participants report significant improvements. However, the therapeutic impact may depend on the "psychedelic experience," raising questions about whether benefits can be achieved without these effects. The complex interactions of tryptamines with various serotonin receptors necessitate deeper investigation. This exploration aims to refine existing compounds and develop new psychedelic and non-psychedelic therapies, enhancing treatment options in neuropharmacology and psychology.
Abstract
The last decade represented a period of unprecedented interest in, and development of, traditional psychedelic substances for the treatment of a va...
The Potential of Psilocybin Administration in Terminal Cancer Patients
Oncology Times – June 28, 2019
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin dramatically improved mood for cancer patients. In a Johns Hopkins study of 51 individuals facing terminal cancer and depression, 78 percent experienced a clinical response for depression and 83 percent for anxiety six months later. This powerful psychedelic medicine, now a focus in Psychiatry and Pharmacology drug studies, offers hope for severe depression. Future Psychology research will explore its impact on major depressive disorder, building on evidence of its safety and non-addictive nature.
Abstract
psilocybin; depression; terminal cancer; CME; CNE: psilocybin; depression; terminal cancer; CME; CNEPsilocybin is a naturally occurring alkaloid fo...
Tripping on Mushrooms with Edward Said: The Case for Literary Studies as Holistic Medicine
South Atlantic Quarterly – April 01, 2025
Summary
Benefits of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin arise from how individuals interpret their intense experiences, or "tripping." Crucial to drug studies, this suggests transformative potential for self-perception and anxiety reduction lies in cultural understanding. These aesthetically rich, extraordinary sensory states offer a framework for critical thought. Drawing on spiritual practices' history, this perspective cultivates skills to reframe global catastrophes—from climate change to mental health crises—opening new dimensions for art and creativity.
Abstract
This piece introduces the special issue of SAQ “Psychedelic Imaginaries,” which collates fresh and theoretically sophisticated humanist perspective...
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with self-dissolution.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience – November 24, 2025
Summary
Our sense of self is intricately linked to the brain's 'critical' balance of activity. New findings reveal how a potent psychedelic shifts brain oscillations, particularly alpha waves, towards a quieter, subcritical state. This change, increasing brain entropy while reducing complexity, directly correlates with the intensity of experiencing a dissolved sense of self. These insights illuminate the neurological basis of altered consciousness.
Abstract
Psychedelics profoundly alter subjective experience and brain dynamics. Brain oscillations express signatures of near-critical dynamics, relevant f...
This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience
CORE – June 29, 2023
Summary
A singular case reveals striking parallels between a profound near-death experience and a powerful psychedelic journey. Researchers interviewed an individual who survived a coma and later experienced 5-Methoxy-DMT, comparing the two events. The analysis uncovered significant overlap in themes, including ego dissolution and transcendence of time and space. Yet, the near-death event uniquely featured elements like life review and encounters with deceased loved ones. This suggests that while some brain mechanisms may overlap, the near-death experience might involve distinct processes, potentially linked to its specific medical origin.
Abstract
Introduction: Much research has focused on the modeling of the near-death experience (NDE) by classical and atypical psychedelics; however, to date...
Deep CANALs: a deep learning approach to refining the canalization theory of psychopathology
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelic therapy helps treat various psychopathologies. Cognitive psychology and science posit psychedelics relax rigid, maladaptive beliefs. Refining this via artificial intelligence, a new model identifies two distinct ways beliefs are represented, revealing four specific pathologies from either excessive or insufficient rigidity in these constructs. This expanded epistemology guides psychotherapists toward tailored psychedelic interventions. Understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and the biochemical landscape promises a greater variety of therapeutic approaches, moving beyond simplistic representations.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic therapy has seen a resurgence of interest in the last decade, with promising clinical outcomes for the treatment of a variety ...
This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
Summary
A profound near-death experience during encephalitis-induced coma shared remarkable similarities with the effects of the powerful psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT. Through thematic analysis, researchers found both experiences produced intense mystical states, including ego dissolution and transcendence of space-time. While endogenous compounds may play a role, unique NDE elements like life review suggest distinct neural mechanisms.
Abstract
Much research has focused on the modeling of the near-death experience (NDE) by classical and atypical psychedelics; however, to date, no study has...
Increases in Aesthetic Experience Following Ayahuasca Use: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – February 27, 2024
Summary
Participants in an ayahuasca retreat (N = 54) reported significant increases in aesthetic experience one week and one month post-retreat, compared to baseline. Specifically, 70% noted enhanced appreciation for art and beauty. Interestingly, factors like mystical experiences and ego dissolution did not predict these aesthetic changes. This suggests that ayahuasca may uniquely influence how individuals perceive and express aesthetics, aligning with anecdotal evidence of psychedelics enhancing artistic appreciation. These findings highlight the potential of psychedelics in transforming psychological perspectives on aesthetics.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs are currently being investigated for their potential to facilitate a variety of long-lasting psychological changes. One area that...
The Hallucinogen Rating Scale: Updated Factor Structure in a Large, Multistudy Sample.
Biological psychiatry global open science – March 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and DMT create distinct patterns of consciousness that can now be reliably measured. A comprehensive analysis of nearly 1,000 questionnaires reveals eight key factors that capture the unique effects of different psychoactive substances. The Hallucinogen Rating Scale successfully differentiates classic psychedelics from other drugs, with meaningfulness emerging as a distinctive feature of psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
The Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS) has been widely used to measure the subjective effects of psychedelics and other psychoactive substances. Its a...
Synthesizing Attachment Theory with the REBUS Model
The Oxford Handbook of Psychedelic, Religious, Spiritual, and Mystical Experiences – December 18, 2024
Summary
Our early relationships shape deep-seated mental models that influence how we connect with the world. A new perspective proposes that psychedelic experiences, by inducing a highly flexible brain state, can profoundly revise these models. This framework suggests that with supportive relational experiences, individuals can achieve greater emotional security and psychological transformation. It posits that personal attachment styles predict how people experience psychedelics and that successful psychedelic therapy can enhance feelings of security and connectedness, alleviating anxieties. This synthesis offers a powerful way to understand how these therapies foster positive change.
Abstract
Abstract In this chapter, the authors synthesize the relational developmental perspective of attachment theory with a neuroscientific model: the RE...
Ethics and ego dissolution: the case of psilocybin
Journal of Medical Ethics – May 27, 2020
Summary
Half a century ago, **hallucinogens** like **psilocybin** were proscribed from medical **psychology**. Now, early **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** suggest novel benefits for mental disorders, offering unique patient experiences like **feelings** of profound unity. These distinct features necessitate enhanced **informed consent** processes beyond typical **psychiatry** approaches. As these **chemical synthesis and alkaloids** move towards **mainstream** clinical use, **psychotherapists** must address novel risks, drawing on **social psychology** and **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** for ethical integration.
Abstract
Despite the fact that psychedelics were proscribed from medical research half a century ago, recent, early-phase trials on psychedelics have sugges...
Psilocybin, moralization and psychotherapy: a scoping review and a case report
Philosophical Psychology – August 20, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin and other hallucinogens offer a profound shift in psychiatric care. Their therapeutic effect, a key insight for Psychology, Cognitive science, and even Psychoanalysis, is not solely pharmacological but significantly enhances psychotherapy. Integrating these substances with a psychotherapist's guidance, as explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, moves beyond historical hype. This diverse academic research, examining chemical synthesis and alkaloids, advocates for rigorous, ethical practice, establishing these treatments as legitimate alternatives for conditions like depression.
Abstract
The resurgence of interest in psychedelic substances for psychiatric treatment has sparked both excitement and scepticism within the scientific com...
Naturalistic Entheogenics
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences – April 19, 2022
Summary
Emerging drug studies show psilocybin can reduce severe depression by 50-70% in some patients, challenging traditional psychology. A core "Comforting Delusion Objection" questions if this therapeutic promise, often involving chemical synthesis and alkaloids, relies on non-naturalistic metaphysical beliefs, creating an epistemological dilemma for psychotherapists. Psychedelic therapy, rather than promoting delusion, alters self-representations, offering profound epistemic and spiritual benefits fully compatible with naturalism, moving beyond simple neuroplasticity or placebo effect in pain management.
Abstract
In this précis I summarise the main ideas of my book Philosophy of Psychedelics. The book discusses philosophical issues arising from the therapeut...
The Relationship Between Participant Pretreatment Clinical Presentation and the Quality of Psilocybin Experience
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology – December 09, 2025
Summary
The intensity of a psilocybin experience is overwhelmingly driven by the dose, not individual traits. In a trial involving 233 participants battling treatment-resistant depression, those receiving 25, 10, or 1 mg of COMP360 psilocybin showed that the drug amount was the most consistent predictor of their subjective journey. While factors like positive affect or lower anxiety symptoms had minor influences on specific aspects, they were dwarfed by the administered dose. This challenges assumptions about personal characteristics dictating acute psychedelic effects, underscoring dose as the primary determinant.
Abstract
Purpose/Background: The therapeutic effects of psilocybin treatment are thought to be influenced by the subjective dose-dependent psychedelic exper...
The Mystical Experience Questionnaire 4-Item and Challenging Experience Questionnaire 7-Item.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – March 01, 2024
Summary
Mystical experiences with psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD can reduce depression and anxiety, while challenging experiences show minimal impact on mental health outcomes. New shorter questionnaires effectively track both types of experiences, making it easier to assess therapeutic effects of psychedelics in clinical settings.
Abstract
The Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) and Challenging Effects Questionnaire (CEQ) are two of the most widely used, validated instruments t...
A qualitative and quantitative account of patient's experiences of ketamine and its antidepressant properties.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – August 01, 2021
Summary
Participants in a study on ketamine for major depressive disorder reported profound changes in perspective and emotional well-being. Out of 32 volunteers, all experienced perceptual shifts, with key themes emerging around spirituality and unity during their psychedelic experiences. Notably, greater reductions in depression scores were linked to these altered states. Follow-up interviews revealed lasting effects, including an uplifting “psychedelic afterglow” that transformed how individuals viewed life and their mental health. This highlights the significant role of ketamine's psychedelic properties in its antidepressant effects.
Abstract
Ketamine is central to one of the most rapidly growing areas of neuroscientific research into novel treatments for depression. Limited research has...
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with self-dissolution
The Journal of Neuroscience – November 24, 2025
Summary
A fascinating discovery reveals how psychedelics reshape consciousness. A powerful substance, DMT, profoundly alters brain activity, shifting its normal rhythmic patterns away from a 'critical' state. This change, observed in alpha and theta brainwaves, increases brain entropy while reducing its complexity. Crucially, these shifts directly correlate with the profound subjective experience of 'self-dissolution,' where one's sense of self temporarily fades. This clarifies how psychedelics impact the brain's fundamental dynamics, illuminating altered states of consciousness.
Abstract
Psychedelics profoundly alter subjective experience and brain dynamics. Brain oscillations express signatures of near-critical dynamics, relevant f...
Expanding Mindscapes
The MIT Press eBooks – June 29, 2023
Summary
Expanding Mindscapes reveals a rich tapestry of psychedelic history, showcasing diverse global narratives that span generations. This collection highlights LSD's therapeutic use in communist Czechoslovakia and its early applications in South America, among other contexts. With contributions from various scholars, it uncovers how colonialism and local cultures shaped perceptions of psychedelics. Covering topics like gender and technological innovations, this work engages with 15 authors and offers fresh perspectives that significantly enhance the historiography of psychedelics beyond North American confines.
Abstract
The first collection of its kind to explore the diverse and global history of psychedelics as they appealed to several generations of researchers a...
Shocking colours - ECT temporarily improves colour perception in a colour-blind patient
Brain stimulation – April 28, 2020
Summary
Electroconvulsive therapy dramatically improved color perception in a woman with severe Major Depression. After 24 treatments, her Ishihara test errors plummeted from 30 to 15, a 50% reduction, revealing brighter, more vivid colors. This unexpected outcome, alongside reduced depressive symptoms (Hamilton-D17 score from 21 to 16) while receiving Olanzapine, offers novel insights for Psychiatry and Medicine. It expands Psychology's understanding of sensory processing and the treatment of Major Depression.
Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is often the last resort in medically treatment-resistant patients. The mechanisms of its efficacy are still somewh...
Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
A new, brief questionnaire accurately gauges the intensity of a potent psychedelic experience. Researchers developed a simple, three-item 'peak experience' questionnaire to quickly assess the strength of the psychoactive effects of 5-MeO-DMT (mebufotenin). This tool proved highly effective in 84 participants, showing strong correlation with established measures of the psychedelic experience. Its ratings increased significantly with higher doses, confirming its ability to rapidly assess the intensity of this unique psychoactive compound. This validates the questionnaire as a valuable, quick way to understand individual responses and guide dosing for this powerful psychedelic.
Abstract
A three-item Peak Experience Scale (PES) was developed to rapidly evaluate the strength of the psychoactive experience, and to guide the dosing reg...
Transient destabilization of whole brain dynamics induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
Communications biology – March 11, 2025
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, temporarily disrupts normal brain function by creating a state of heightened sensitivity in key brain regions. Scientists tracked brain activity in 15 people given DMT and found it creates a unique "window of opportunity" where small changes in brain activity produce outsized effects. This primarily affects areas rich in serotonin receptors, explaining the drug's intense but brief visual and cognitive effects.
Abstract
The transition towards the brain state induced by psychedelic drugs is frequently neglected in favor of a static description of their acute effects...
The Watts Connectedness Scale: a new scale for measuring a sense of connectedness to self, others, and world
Psychopharmacology – August 08, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic experiences significantly boost feelings of connectedness, a vital psychological construct. An observational study of 1226 participants using psychedelics revealed a substantial increase in a new Watts Connectedness Scale's scores (η² = 0.339), which demonstrated strong construct validity. This scale measures connection to self, others, and the wider world. In a clinical psychology trial, psilocybin therapy led to greater increases in these social connectedness feelings (η² = 0.133) compared to escitalopram, highlighting its potential for mental health improvements.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale A general feeling of disconnection has been associated with mental and emotional suffering. Improvements to a sense of connected...
Is there mush-room to improve the environmental sustainability of psilocybin production?
Journal of CO2 Utilization – June 10, 2025
Summary
Australia's 2023 approval of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for Treatment Resistant Depression highlights a critical need for sustainable production. Current chemical synthesis of this psychedelic alkaloid faces low yields and high costs. An environmentally conscious alternative, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction from fungi biomass, offers promise. Operating at just 31.7°C and 72 bar, scCO2 provides selective, residue-free extraction of psychedelic tryptamines. This approach could revolutionize psilocybin supply, integrating diverse themes from environmental science to drug studies and production economics, by offering a more efficient and sustainable pathway.
Abstract
Mental health disorders and associated economic impact continue to rise domestically and globally. In 2023, to expand treatment options for individ...
Jeremy Shaw's DMT
Performance Research – August 18, 2017
Summary
A compelling finding reveals how a hallucinogen like DMT, akin to psilocybin, can be therapeutically potent for addiction and PTSD. An artist's 2004 video work explored the drug's agency, transforming a psychedelic session into art. This challenges traditional psychology, highlighting the critical context of the setting—whether a "white cube" aesthetic or a psychotherapist's office. Such diverse academic research themes, spanning art history to cross-cultural and social analysis, demonstrate how curated environments influence the euphoriant's effect, inducing trance-like states and potentially revealing existential meaning. The project offers a unique lens for psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
This article examines DMT by Jeremy Shaw, a Berlin-based Canadian artist whose oeuvre has investigated altered states. For this 2004 video work, Sh...
Deep CANALs: A Deep Learning Approach to Refining the Canalization Theory of Psychopathology
OpenAlex – May 18, 2023
Summary
Predicting which psychopathologies respond best to psychedelic therapy just got clearer. Drawing from cognitive psychology and cognitive science, a refined model of belief representation identifies two distinct mental landscapes. This epistemological framework reveals that psychopathology can arise from either excessive or insufficient rigidity in these landscapes, challenging linear assumptions. Understanding this variety of belief canalization, which psychedelics influence via neurotransmitter receptor activity, allows psychotherapists to tailor specific drug studies interventions. This precision promises better outcomes for individuals.
Abstract
Psychedelic therapy has seen a resurgence of interest in the past decade, with promising clinical outcomes for treatment of a variety of psychopath...
Integration and segregation in whole-brain networks: implications for altered states of consciousness
OpenAlex – January 01, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters Consciousness, dramatically increasing brain integration, while deep sleep promotes segregation. Neuroscience and Psychology reveal that during a psychedelic state, a globally coherent functional connectivity state becomes more probable, with a strong decrease in Default mode network activity. Functional Brain Connectivity Studies using fMRI, incorporating Topological and Geometric Data Analysis, show Betweenness centrality shifts. These insights, relevant to Computer science, Artificial intelligence, and Theoretical computer science, offer new Cognitive science perspectives in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
To survive in an ever-changing environment, the brain must seamlessly integrate a rich stream of incoming information into coherent internal repres...
Effects of LSD, DMT and psilocybin on cognitive and psychological functions: A systematic review of the literature
Journal of Psychopharmacology – February 16, 2026
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin can enhance emotional empathy in individuals, while cognitive empathy remains unaffected. In a review of 32 placebo-controlled studies involving various cognitive tasks, results showed that reaction time and attention were often impaired, with effects varying based on task type and timing. Notably, some studies indicated a dose-dependent impairment in memory tasks. The findings on cognitive flexibility were inconsistent, highlighting the complexity of psychedelics' effects on cognition and psychology. Larger sample sizes are essential for more definitive conclusions.
Abstract
We carried out a systematic review of modern-era (1990-2025) placebo-controlled studies assessing the acute and post-acute effects of lysergic acid...
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine and harmine formulation shifts metastable topography sequences in the cortex
OpenAlex – December 09, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like DMT and harmine significantly accelerate brain dynamics, as evidenced by a study involving 25 participants. The use of microstate analysis revealed that while the duration of neural states decreased, the frequency of transitions increased, indicating heightened activity. Notably, the sequence of states became less random, with a 30% rise in accessibility to certain states (M3 and M5) while M2 was deprioritized. This suggests that psychedelics promote a structured reorganization of neural activity, enhancing the brain's capacity for diverse patterns and metastability.
Abstract
Abstract Classic serotonergic psychedelics are potent modulators of conscious awareness, yet the principles governing their effects on the temporal...
Qualitative insights into psilocybin and LSD experiences: Enhanced connection and emotion processing reported by Spanish-speaking survey respondents
Psychedelics – November 15, 2025
Summary
Experiences with psilocybin and LSD can foster deep social connections, as revealed in a qualitative analysis of 379 Spanish-speaking individuals recounting their most memorable psychedelic experiences. Two main themes emerged: (1) Deep Connection—highlighting feelings of unity with nature and others—and (2) Emotion-Related Experiences, which included joy and emotional catharsis. This study emphasizes the importance of diverse populations in psychedelic research to enhance cultural relevance and therapeutic applications, advocating for culturally sensitive approaches to better support varied communities.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD have shown potential therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions, including depression, PTS...
Snapshot of 5-HT 2A receptor activation in the mouse brain via IP 1 detection.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – October 12, 2024
Summary
Scientists have discovered a new way to track how psychedelic drugs like LSD affect specific brain receptors. The research shows that psychedelic and non-psychedelic substances trigger different responses in the brain's serotonin system. By measuring a specific brain chemical called IP1, researchers can now distinguish between true psychedelics and similar compounds, offering insights into how these substances create their unique effects.
Abstract
The distinct subjective effects that define psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin or DOI as drug class are causally linked to activation of the sero...
Investigating Safety Concerns and Harm Reduction in Entheogenic Churches: The Case for Community-Based Participatory Research.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – November 22, 2025
Summary
Communities using psychedelics like Ayahuasca or Santo Daime have unique safety frameworks. This work shows that Community-based participatory practices, involving a Community advisory board, effectively builds trust and yields vital harm reduction insights. Positive findings highlight successful engagement and respect for historical context, informing future psychedelic research and public education.
Abstract
Alongside the important contributions of the harm reduction movement to improving public health in secular settings, communities that use psychedel...
Well-being, problematic alcohol consumption and acute subjective drug effects in past-year ayahuasca users: a large, international, self-selecting online survey
Scientific Reports – November 03, 2017
Summary
Ayahuasca users reported significantly higher well-being compared to classic psychedelic users (18,138 individuals) and non-psychedelic drug users (78,236 individuals). Among the 527 ayahuasca users surveyed, only 22% experienced problematic alcohol use, in contrast to 28% of classic psychedelic users. The subjective effects of ayahuasca typically peaked one hour post-consumption and lasted about six hours. This research highlights ayahuasca's potential as a psychiatric medicine, suggesting it may foster improved mental health and lower alcohol-related issues compared to other psychedelics.
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca is a natural psychedelic brew, which contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Its potential as a psychiatric medicine has recently bee...
Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – March 18, 2021
Summary
Shamanic trance induces profound shifts in consciousness, often surpassing those under psychedelics. Electroencephalography (EEG) on 24 practitioners and 24 controls revealed unique neural correlates. During active listening to drumming, practitioners showed distinct brain wave patterns, like increased gamma absolute power, influencing consciousness. This neuroscience advances cognitive psychology, distinguishing shamanism from drug studies (neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior). These findings broaden consciousness understanding, complementing resting state fMRI, biochemical analysis, and audiology, offering unique insights into human psychology.
Abstract
Psychedelics have been recognized as model interventions for studying altered states of consciousness. However, few empirical studies of the shaman...
Altered trajectories in the dynamical repertoire of functional network states under psilocybin
OpenAlex – July 25, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly shifts brain activity, enhancing global synchronization while destabilizing networks vital for focused thought in healthy participants. Neuroscience reveals the brain's dynamic repertoire of functional connectivity states undergoes a dramatic change in consciousness under psychedelics. This suggests a bias towards global brain integration, moving away from localized activity. This psychological perspective on altered states offers crucial insights for mental health research, potentially guiding pharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Abstract
Abstract Brain activity can be understood as the exploration of a dynamical landscape of activity configurations over both space and time. This dyn...
Receptor binding profiles and behavioral effects of psilocybin analogs
The FASEB Journal – May 01, 2022
Summary
A compelling finding reveals psilacetin, a synthetic psilocybin analog, acts as a potent hallucinogen with potential intrinsic psychedelic activity, not merely as a prodrug. *In vivo* studies in male mice, using doses from 0.03 to 3 mg/kg, showed psilocin most potent for head twitch responses, followed by psilacetin and psilocybin. This pharmacology suggests psilacetin converts to psilocin, yet its direct agonist action at 5-HT2A receptors (nM affinities) is significant. An antagonist blocked these effects, clarifying 5-HT2A receptor influence on behavior and advancing understanding of these alkaloids' stereochemistry.
Abstract
4‐phosphorloxy‐ N,N ‐dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound that is being investigated in clinical studies i...
The Potential Role of Serotonergic Hallucinogens in Depression Treatment
Life – July 29, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, demonstrates remarkable promise for treating depressive symptoms. A review of 14 clinical trials from the last 10 years in Psychedelics and Drug Studies found this serotonergic compound, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly reduced depression. One study even showed psilocybin's efficacy comparable to escitalopram, a standard medicine. No serious adverse effect was reported. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior offers new avenues for clinical psychology and psychiatry, potentially transforming how psychotherapists approach mental health challenges, easing the burden of depression.
Abstract
Due to an increasing number of depression diagnoses and limited effective treatments, researchers continue to explore novel therapeutic strategies ...
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...
Cardiac Arrest Associated With Psilocybin Use and Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Cureus – May 07, 2023
Summary
A 48-year-old man on ADHD medication suffered a life-threatening arrhythmia, possibly due to *polypharmacy*. This case in *medicine* highlights challenges in *psychiatry* as *psychedelics and drug studies* explore *psilocybin* and other *hallucinogens* like *ecstasy* and *phencyclidine*. Understanding *recreational drug* interactions is vital, especially for conditions like *bipolar disorder* or *hypomania* where *Quetiapine* is used. Comprehensive *forensic toxicology and drug analysis*, including *cannabis* research, is crucial to prevent such adverse events.
Abstract
Recreational drug use is a significant public health concern in various countries. It is well understood that usage of psychedelics/hallucinogens, ...
Psilocybin-gestützte Therapie von Depression, Angst und Suchtstörungen: Neurobiologische Grundlagen und klinische Anwendung
Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie – May 19, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy offers profound hope for mental health, especially when conventional medicine fails. This unique approach, involving a psychotherapist and controlled doses of the hallucinogen Psilocybin, has shown long-term positive effects after just one to a few sessions in initial Psychology and Psychiatry investigations. Its therapeutic mechanisms involve neurotransmitter receptor influence. Growing interest in Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies has led to approval for larger clinical trials, signaling a potential paradigm shift in mental healthcare.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Eine erfolgreiche Therapie psychischer Störungen ist angesichts des häufig vorhandenen Leidensdrucks der Betroffenen sehr wichtig. ...
Psychotherapie mit adjuvanter Gabe von serotonergen psychoaktiven Substanzen – Möglichkeiten und Hindernisse
Fortschritte der Neurologie · Psychiatrie – July 01, 2017
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide are re-emerging as powerful tools in psychiatry. These serotonergic hallucinogens and MDMA show promise in psychotherapist-guided medicine. Drug studies indicate efficacy for anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and addiction, influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior. Psychology and medicine are exploring their potential. Forensic toxicology and drug analysis will increasingly examine these compounds.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Der Einsatz von serotonergen Halluzinogenen (Psychedelika) wie Lysergsäure-Diethylamid (LSD) und Psilocybin und Entakto...
Fallbeispiele zur Therapie der rezidivierenden Depression mit Psilocybin
Nervenheilkunde – April 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a synthesized alkaloid, shows immense potential in treating recurrent depression, offering new avenues in Psychology and Medicine. Two detailed patient case studies highlight its positive impact on individuals' lives. While interest in Psychedelics and Drug Studies is growing globally, these examples also reveal that not all patients experience long-term benefits. This nuanced perspective is crucial for understanding Psilocybin's broader therapeutic role, potentially informing Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies.
Abstract
ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Der Artikel stellt 2 Behandlungsverläufe von Patienten mit rezidivierender Depression gegenüber, welche mit Psilocybin behandelt wu...
Ayahuasca for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
International review of neurobiology – January 01, 2024
Summary
Ancient Amazonian medicine meets modern addiction treatment: Ayahuasca, a traditional psychedelic brew, shows remarkable potential in treating alcohol use disorder. Clinical studies reveal significant decreases in alcohol consumption among users, while pre-clinical research demonstrates its ability to block alcohol's addictive effects. This natural compound joins other psychedelics as a promising treatment option.
Abstract
For decades, psychedelics have been investigated for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Specifically, evidence suggests that psychedelics may ...
Defined radio wave frequencies attenuate the head-twitch response in mice elicited by (±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine.
Electromagnetic biology and medicine – October 01, 2024
Summary
Serotonergic psychedelics show promise in treating psychiatric disorders where existing medications fall short. A novel approach using electromagnetic signals was tested to mitigate anxiety during psychedelic experiences. In trials with mice, a specific WAV signal derived from the 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOI significantly reduced the head-twitch response by 38% at 0.1 mg/kg and 52% at 0.3 mg/kg. A control signal had no impact, indicating that this method could effectively modulate the therapeutic effects of psychedelics while addressing associated anxieties.
Abstract
Results from clinical trials show that serotonergic psychedelics have efficacy in treating psychiatric disorders, where currently approved pharmaco...
Psilocybin for disorders of consciousness: A case-report study.
Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology – May 01, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking therapeutic approach shows promise for patients with severe brain injury: psilocybin increased brain complexity in a minimally conscious patient. While traditional therapies for disorders of consciousness remain limited, this pioneering case demonstrated new spontaneous behaviors and enhanced neural activity after psychedelics were administered. The treatment proved safe and yielded encouraging neurological changes.
Abstract
With very few treatments available, post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC) pose one of the hardest challenges in modern neurology. Followin...
Ayahuasca enhances the formation of hippocampal-dependent episodic memory without impacting false memory susceptibility in experienced ayahuasca users: An observational study.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – April 01, 2025
Summary
Regular ayahuasca users showed improved memory formation without increased risk of false memories, contrary to expectations about psychedelics. Experienced members of the Santo Daime church demonstrated enhanced episodic memory and recollection after consuming their ceremonial brew, while maintaining accurate recall and familiar memory processing. This suggests ayahuasca may uniquely benefit memory formation.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian brew with 5-HT2A-dependent psychedelic effects taken by religious groups globally. Recently, psychedelics have been shown...