The potential risks of opening the mind's eye with psychedelic therapies.
Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior October 1, 2025 Roger Koenig-Robert, Rebecca Keogh, Joel Pearson 3 citations
As psychedelic therapy becomes more widely legalized, a note of warning is raised about recent reports that people with aphantasia—those lacking a mind's eye—have acquired visual mental imagery after using psychedelics. While gaining or increasing visual imagery may seem appealing, strong mental imagery is linked to several mental health conditions. The potential impact of switching on visual imagery in aphantasics or increasing its strength in neurotypical individuals remains unknown. The authors advocate for greater awareness of these risks and their ethical implications, especially concerning informed consent.