The Ecstasy of Gold in Neurodiversity: Focus on the Use of Psychedelics in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Preprints.org April 29, 2026 Stefano Marini, Domenico de Berardis preprint
Psychedelic drugs, both natural and synthetic, act on serotonin receptors and may enhance cognition, brain connectivity, neuroplasticity, and neuronal regeneration. Autism spectrum disorder involves social communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors, with no approved drugs for core symptoms. Current treatments for co-occurring conditions often have uncertain efficacy and tolerability. This review reports studies indicating that psychedelics could be therapeutically useful for some autism-related symptoms, suggesting a potential role in treatment.