Large-scale brain connectivity changes following the administration of lysergic acid diethylamide, d-amphetamine, and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine.
Molecular psychiatry April 1, 2025 Mihai Avram, Lydia Fortea, Lea Wollner et al. 26 citations
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), d-amphetamine, and MDMA each reduce the integrity (within-network connectivity) of several brain networks, with LSD uniquely reducing integrity in the default-mode network. Contrary to expectations, amphetamines reduced integrity in more networks than LSD. LSD produced more pronounced decreases in between-network segregation, while amphetamines also induced increases. Seed-based connectivity mostly increased between networks across all substances, with LSD showing stronger effects than both amphetamines. All substances decreased global connectivity in visual areas, but LSD specifically increased global connectivity in the basal ganglia and thalamus. These findings clarify distinctive neurobiological effects of psychedelics and support further investigation of their therapeutic potential.