Brain Behav
March 1, 2025
Kiren Bashir, Stephen B. Edstrom, Sara J. Barlow et al.
4 citations
Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is associated with measurable changes in brain structure and function, particularly in regions linked to emotional regulation, empathy, and compassion. This systematic review of neuroimaging studies in long-term LKM practitioners found consistent evidence of altered activity and gray matter volume in areas such as the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex. These brain changes correlate with enhanced prosocial emotions and emotional balance, suggesting that LKM may foster neuroplasticity supporting mental well-being. The findings imply potential clinical applications for conditions involving emotional dysregulation, though further research is needed to confirm therapeutic efficacy.
Brain Behav
November 1, 2025
Jake Payne, Oliver Robinson, Kevin O. St. Arnaud et al.
3 citations
Classic psychedelics may produce lasting positive effects on mood, cognition, and personality, but how these effects vary by age is unclear. Emerging adulthood (ages 18-29) is a critical developmental period marked by transition to independence and common psychedelic experimentation. This integrative review proposes a framework for how psychedelic use could positively influence development during this stage, including changes in personality trait openness, belief systems, self-insight, and social concern. The authors outline pathways for orthogenetic, veridical-epistemic, eudaimonic, relational, and ethical developmental trajectories. They also identify future research directions and key challenges for studying psychedelics' developmental impact in emerging adulthood.
Brain Behav
April 1, 2026
A single dose of a psychedelic drug can repair synaptic physiology in the prefrontal cortex of mice that were exposed to alcohol before birth, suggesting potential for treating cognitive deficits associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.