Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may work by reducing activity and functional connectivity within the default-mode network (DMN), a brain system linked to self-referential thought and rumination. The review suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD temporarily disrupt DMN integrity, allowing for a more flexible, less rigid pattern of brain activity that could help patients break out of maladaptive thought patterns. This neural change is proposed as a key indicator of therapeutic effectiveness for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. The authors call for further research to confirm the causal relationship between DMN modulation and clinical outcomes.
People who use psychedelics in natural settings show weaker increases in alpha and beta brainwave power when thinking about themselves, compared to non-users, especially in regions like the posterior cingulate cortex that handle self-related information and memory. However, these differences were not replicated in a second, smaller dataset, limiting confidence in the finding. The results contribute to ongoing debate about how long psychedelic effects last in brain circuits linked to self-processing and question the specific role of default-mode network hubs in such changes.