Current Psychology
September 8, 2023
Camile Bahi, Mona Irrmischer, Katrien Franken et al.
27 citations
A single session of connected breathing reduced negative mood states (anger, tension, confusion, depression) and increased esteem in 20 healthy adults aged 23–39. Electroencephalography recordings showed decreased delta and theta brainwave power in frontotemporal and parietal regions, and decreased beta1 and beta2 power in parietotemporal regions. Experienced practitioners showed increased gamma power. Subjective experiences during breathwork resembled those after medium to high doses of psilocybin, indicating mystical-type experiences. The results suggest breathwork alters brain activity and mood and may improve mental well-being.
Psychopharmacology
January 7, 2025
Mona Irrmischer, Drew Puxty, Hessel Engelbregt et al.
4 citations
A single high dose of psilocybin combined with therapy reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and neuroticism over three months. Scores on openness and conscientiousness increased after treatment. Participants reported mystical-type experiences, emotional breakthrough, and personal growth, which—along with demographic factors—moderated the positive changes. The findings suggest psilocybin-assisted therapy can benefit mood and personality, and highlight the role of subjective experiences and demographics in optimizing this treatment.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
November 24, 2025
Mona Irrmischer, Marco Aqil, Lisa Luan et al.
A psychedelic substance (DMT) shifts brain oscillations away from criticality—a state of balanced, complex activity—toward a quieter subcritical regime, particularly in alpha and adjacent frequency bands. This shift increases entropy while reducing complexity. The magnitude of the criticality shift in alpha and theta bands correlates with the intensity of self-dissolution, a core feature of the psychedelic experience. These findings suggest that altered proximity to critical dynamics underlies both the neurological and experiential effects of psychedelics, with implications for understanding altered states of consciousness.