Brain Sci
January 25, 2025
Francesco Weiss, Anna Magnesa, Matteo Gambini et al.
62 citations
Psychedelics show promise for treating mental disorders, but their use remains controversial. Preclinical evidence from genetic, histological, and behavioral studies consistently indicates that psychedelics can induce neuroplasticity. Clinical evidence, despite methodological challenges, generally aligns with these preclinical findings. However, it remains unclear whether the neuroplastic effects of classic psychedelics can be separated from their psychodysleptic effects, which could reduce associated psychopathological risks. Additionally, the assumption that a 'relaxation of priors' is always beneficial is debatable. Further research is needed to clarify indications and contraindications for psychedelic psychoplastogens within a precision medicine framework.
Brain Sci
May 17, 2023
Andrew A. Fingelkurts, Alexander A. Fingelkurts
9 citations
The paper argues that current terminology for disorders of consciousness—such as 'nonconscious,' 'unconscious,' and 'subconscious'—carries different conceptual meanings that influence clinical understanding and ethical treatment of patients. It proposes expanding the discussion to consider these distinctions more carefully, suggesting that labeling patients as 'nonconscious' may imply a complete absence of experience, while 'subconscious' could allow for residual awareness. The authors advocate for a more nuanced language that reflects the complexity of consciousness states, aiming to improve both scientific accuracy and compassionate care.
Brain Sci
September 12, 2025
Krista Ulisse, Jehad Albitar, Jourdan T. Aromin et al.
5 citations
Addiction treatment faces challenges with poor retention and few medications. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and neuromodulation are emerging as circuit-level interventions for behavioral addictions. This review examines how these treatments target disrupted reward, executive control, and stress regulation networks. By doing so, they may enable meaningful recovery and long-term remission in otherwise treatment-refractory cases. The review covers mechanisms of action, applications in gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, internet use disorder, and compulsive sexual behavior disorder, and highlights current research limitations and future directions for integrating these novel therapies.
Brain Sci
May 28, 2025
Dimitra Vasileiou, Despina Moraitou, Konstantinos Diamantaras et al.
5 citations
A systematic review of mindfulness interventions for people with early-stage cognitive decline related to dementia finds that such interventions may improve cognitive function and brain health. The review examined multiple studies and suggests that mindfulness training can lead to small to moderate improvements in memory and executive function, as well as changes in brain structure and activity. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes and variability in study designs, and more rigorous research is needed to confirm these effects. The findings indicate a potential role for mindfulness as a non-drug therapy to support brain health in early dementia.
Brain Sci
September 28, 2025
Sabrina Correa da Costa, Nicholas L. Bormann, Tyler Oesterle et al.
3 citations
Substance use disorders affect over 48.5 million Americans, and available treatments often fail even with adequate adherence. This overview of 16 systematic reviews examined evidence on serotonergic psychedelics and ketamine for treating substance use disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests these compounds may offer advantages over traditional treatments and could eventually become part of next-generation therapies under specific circumstances. However, significant challenges remain: high risk of bias and methodological limitations in existing studies warrant caution, and associated risks are not negligible. The use of psychedelic drugs for substance use disorders remains experimental, and current evidence is insufficient to support clinical practice.
Brain Sci
May 14, 2024
Elena Gerhardt, Benjamin Baird
3 citations
Lucid dreaming—becoming aware that one is dreaming—shares features with mindfulness, the moment-to-moment awareness of experience, and with meta-awareness, the ability to notice the current content of one's own mental state. An online survey of 635 people found that daily frequent meditators report more lucid dreams than non-frequent meditators, but weekly frequent meditators do not. Open monitoring styles of meditation are positively associated with lucid dreaming. Meta-awareness is higher among meditators and weekly lucid dreamers. Frequent lucid dreaming is also linked to a non-reactive stance and experiences of transcendence. The findings indicate a positive relationship between specific meditation practices and lucid dreaming, and highlight meta-awareness as a cognitive process connecting meditation, mindfulness, and lucid dreaming.
Brain Sci
September 17, 2025
Alessio Mosca, Stefania Chiappini, Andrea Miuli et al.
1 citation
Synthetic cannabinoids can cause psychosis that is often severe and difficult to treat. This systematic review examined published case reports and case series to identify effective treatment strategies. The review found that benzodiazepines and antipsychotics are commonly used, but many patients require intensive care and prolonged hospitalization. No single treatment protocol emerged as clearly superior, and outcomes varied widely, with some patients recovering fully while others experienced persistent psychotic symptoms. The authors suggest that early recognition and aggressive management may improve outcomes, but more research is needed to establish standardized treatment guidelines.
Brain Sci
March 31, 2026
Oscar Arias-Carrión, Emmanuel Ortega-Robles, Elías Manjarrez
Consciousness poses a puzzle: unified experience arises from distributed brain activity. Classical neuroscience explains synaptic and network mechanisms, but debates continue over whether quantum principles are needed. This review examines quantum ideas in two ways: as mathematical models for context-dependent cognition and as hypotheses about real quantum states in the brain. It surveys evidence from MRI signals, learning models, and proposed neural substrates like microtubules and nuclear spins. No study has yet demonstrated entanglement or long-lived coherence in neural tissue under standard quantum criteria. Replication is limited, and classical dynamics can mimic quantum signatures. The key question is whether brain dynamics exceed classical models. Progress requires precise tests to distinguish quantum correlations from classical complexity.
Brain Sci
November 4, 2025
A. Benjamin Srivastava, Mark S. Gold
Research into psychedelic drugs for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) has revived, but several fundamental limitations restrict the conclusions that can be drawn. These include general issues like functional unblinding and the ambiguous definition of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, as well as AUD-specific challenges such as how the mystical experience relates to the spiritual experience described in Alcoholics Anonymous literature. Current neuroimaging studies are also limited in design and fail to directly examine the cognitive and circuit-level processes likely underlying treatment response. This review bridges historical, conceptual, and mechanistic aspects of this research and offers suggestions for future studies to more clearly specify the role of psychedelics in AUD treatment.
Brain Sci
October 9, 2023
David Rudrauf, Grégoire Sergeant-Perthuis, Yvain Tisserand et al.
The Projective Consciousness Model proposes that projective geometry forms the core structure of conscious experience, integrating perception, imagination, motivation, emotion, social cognition, and action. The model argues that consciousness is not merely a byproduct of neural activity but is fundamentally organized by projective geometric principles, which allow the mind to construct a unified, egocentric spatial framework. This framework underpins how we perceive the world, imagine scenarios, feel emotions, and act. The theory suggests that these geometric structures enable the seamless integration of diverse mental functions, offering a unified account of consciousness that bridges phenomenology and neuroscience.