PLoS ONE
August 27, 2025
Amy Kartar, Toru Horinouchi, Balázs Örzsik et al.
1 citation
High ventilation breathwork (HVB), which involves rapid or deep breathing often accompanied by music, can produce altered states of consciousness (ASCs) similar to those caused by psychedelic substances, including euphoria, bliss, and perceptual changes. The neurobiological mechanisms behind these effects were largely unknown. In experienced practitioners, the intensity of ASCs from HVB was proportional to cardiovascular sympathetic activation and to changes in cerebral blood flow in the left operculum/posterior insula and right amygdala/anterior hippocampus—brain regions involved in sensing breathing and processing emotional memories. These brain changes may underlie the positive therapeutic outcomes associated with HVB.
PLoS ONE
October 24, 2024
Kyurim Kim, Abban Yusuf, Abhimanyu Sud et al.
1 citation
Psychedelic clinics in Ontario, Canada, advertise psychedelics such as ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin for 47 medical conditions, most commonly depression. An analysis of 10 clinic websites found that only 2 mentioned potential risks. The clinics cited 29 studies, the majority of which were case-series and case-control studies (level 4 evidence, the second lowest quality). Overall, the evidence quality supporting the clinics' claims was low to moderate. The study underscores the need for transparent, high-quality evidence to ensure safe and effective use of psychedelics in mental health treatment.
PLoS ONE
June 18, 2026
Elisa Liberati, Hv Curran, Peter Fonagy et al.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for treating PTSD, but the psychological mechanisms behind its effects are not well understood. This qualitative study will have approximately 25 experienced psychodynamic psychotherapists receive two doses of MDMA (80-120 mg, oral) in an open-label design. Participants will complete interviews before, during, and after MDMA sessions, plus daily journals. Researchers will use phenomenological and thematic analysis, along with grounded theory, to develop a model of MDMA's psychological mechanisms of action. The study treats therapists as expert observers of their own psychological processes, aiming to generate insights that can inform future treatment models and offer a framework for qualitative mechanistic research on psychedelics.
PLoS ONE
November 10, 2025
Marina D. Luccioni, Jules T. Wyman, Edgard O. Espinoza et al.
The Sonoran Desert toad is the only animal known to secrete the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT as a chemical defense, but its source was unknown. All Sonoran Desert toads secreted high concentrations of 5-MeO-DMT, while other sympatric toads did not. The diet of the Sonoran Desert toad was similar to that of other anurans living in the same area, indicating no dietary specialization. Slight dietary differences existed between toads in native and urban habitats. These findings suggest diet is not directly linked to 5-MeO-DMT production, supporting the hypothesis that the toad synthesizes the compound endogenously or via a microbial symbiont.
PLoS ONE
October 13, 2025
Francisco González-espejito, Laura Esteban Rodríguez, Eduardo J. Pedrero Pérez et al.
Ibogaine, a compound from the iboga plant used in traditional Bwiti rituals, shows promise for treating opioid dependence and neurological conditions, but existing tools fail to capture its dream-like subjective effects. A new 70-item Ibogaine Experience Scale (IES) was developed from a prior qualitative study and tested with 499 participants in neuropsychiatric and substance use treatment settings. The final scale has seven factors—including narrative visions, visual changes, discomfort, cosmic visions, introspection, somatosensory sensitivity, and dissociation—explaining 53.9% of variance, with excellent statistical fit and high internal consistency. The IES offers a reliable way to measure ibogaine's multidimensional effects for research and clinical use.
PLoS ONE
February 6, 2019
Vince Polito, Richard J. Stevenson
People who regularly ingest very small amounts of psychedelic substances (microdosing) report minimal acute effects but claim long-term health and wellbeing benefits. In an observational study, 98 microdosers provided daily ratings of psychological functioning over six weeks; 63 also completed psychometric measures at baseline and study end. Daily ratings showed a general increase in reported psychological functioning on dosing days but limited evidence of residual effects. Pre- and post-study measures revealed reductions in depression and stress, lower distractibility, increased absorption, and increased neuroticism. A second study of 263 naïve and experienced microdosers found that participants believed microdosing would have large, wide-ranging benefits, contrasting with the limited outcomes reported by actual microdosers.