Imran Ashraf

2 papers in the library · 1 citation · publishing 2025

Papers

Dissociable effects of LSD and MDMA on striato-cortical connectivity in healthy subjects

bioRxiv February 8, 2025 Natalie Ertl, Imran Ashraf, Lisa Azizi et al. 1 citation preprint

LSD and MDMA, two psychoactive drugs being explored for psychiatric use, alter how the striatum—a brain region central to reward and motivation—communicates with other areas. In a resting-state fMRI study, neither drug changed connectivity within the striatum's own networks. However, MDMA reduced connectivity between the limbic striatum and the amygdala, while LSD increased connectivity between the associative striatum and frontal, sensorimotor, and visual cortices. These changes occurred mostly outside standard striatal networks, suggesting the drugs reduce the brain's usual network segregation, which may help explain their therapeutic potential for conditions like addiction, mood disorders, and PTSD.

DOI: 10.1101/2025.02.07.637042 LSD MDMA Psychedelics Psychoactive compounds +21

Dissociable effects of LSD and MDMA on striato-cortical connectivity in healthy subjects.

Neuropsychopharmacology October 31, 2025 Natalie Ertl, Imran Ashraf, Lisa Azizi et al.

LSD and MDMA, two psychoactive drugs being explored for psychiatric use, alter how the striatum—a brain region involved in reward and motivation—communicates with other areas. Using resting-state fMRI data from prior studies, researchers examined striatal connectivity after acute drug administration. Neither drug changed connectivity within the striatum's own networks. However, MDMA reduced connections between the limbic striatum and the amygdala, while LSD increased connections between the associative striatum and frontal, sensorimotor, and visual cortices. These changes occurred mostly outside standard striatal networks, supporting the idea that psychedelics reduce the brain's usual network segregation, potentially explaining their therapeutic and psychological effects.

DOI: 10.1038/s41386-025-02270-5 MDMA Psychedelics: LSD Compounds Areas controlling thought +9