Brain and Behavior
February 12, 2014
Kathleen A. Garrison, Dustin Scheinost, R. Todd Constable et al.
80 citations
During loving kindness meditation—a practice of directing well-wishing through silent phrases—experienced meditators show reduced brain activity and intrinsic connectivity in the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus compared to novices, regions linked to self-related processing and mind wandering. Meditators also exhibit greater connectivity between the posterior cingulate/precuneus and the left inferior frontal gyrus, while novices show stronger connectivity with other default-mode network regions, the posterior insula, and the parahippocampus/hippocampus. These patterns suggest that loving kindness meditation fosters a present-centered, selfless focus in experienced practitioners relative to beginners.
Brain and Behavior
November 25, 2021
Elise M Hawkins, William Coryell, Stephen Leung et al.
25 citations
Lithium and clozapine are the only two somatic treatments with high-quality evidence of reducing suicide risk, in mood disorders and schizophrenia respectively; stopping lithium increases that risk. Ketamine and esketamine may offer a small, immediate antisuicide effect, though a disproportionate number of suicides occurred in esketamine-treated subjects versus placebo (3 vs. 0 among over 3500 subjects), requiring ongoing evaluation. The evidence for electroconvulsive therapy's antisuicide effect is low-quality. Antidepressants' effect is unclear: direct evidence shows they may increase suicidal ideation and risk in young people over the short term, while indirect evidence suggests they reduce risk over the long term. Clinicians have an expanding pharmacopeia, but some agents may also increase suicidality under specific circumstances.
Brain and Behavior
September 18, 2020
Gunes Sevinc, Jonathan Greenberg, Britta K. Hölzel et al.
24 citations
Mindfulness meditation training is linked to structural changes in the hippocampus, specifically the subiculum, which are associated with reduced connectivity between the hippocampus and lateral occipital regions during the retrieval of extinguished fear memories. This reduced connectivity correlates with decreases in self-reported anxiety after mindfulness training. The findings suggest that the subiculum plays a key role in regulating interactions with contextual cues during memory retrieval, and that mindfulness training may foster resilience by altering these brain circuits.
Brain and Behavior
July 1, 2025
Megan Calnan, Grace Blest‐hopley, Chris Busch et al.
4 citations
Military veterans who attended psilocybin or ayahuasca retreats showed significant improvements in eight measures of mental health and community reintegration, with the largest gains in depression (29.1% reduction on the PHQ-9) and PTSD (26.1% reduction on the PCL-5). Psilocybin retreats produced greater improvements on seven of eight outcomes, while ayahuasca retreats yielded slightly larger PTSD reductions (26.4% vs. 24.8%). Male participants improved more on all outcomes except PTSD, where females showed a larger reduction (32.1% vs. 24.1%). Veterans with worse initial symptoms benefited most. The findings suggest psychedelic retreats could offer a holistic treatment framework addressing psychological well-being, community factors, and civilian reintegration.
Brain and Behavior
October 1, 2025
Pauline Fritz, Anaïs Pichelin, Aurore Ancion et al.
2 citations
A case of a near-death experience (NDE) occurring in a medical and pharmacological context is examined, highlighting the lasting transformations it can trigger. The account underscores the importance for clinicians to recognize NDEs because of their potential long-term effects on patients and their relevance to medical practice.
Brain and Behavior
April 1, 2026
Sharon Murphy, Elizabeth Stewart, Jacqueline Ruth. Winship et al.
1 citation
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is becoming available for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, but there is no cohesive framework to guide collaboration between external therapists and PAT teams. The review suggests PAT should not be seen as a standalone treatment; external therapists are critical across preparation, dosing, and integration phases, contributing to patient safety and continuity of care. Different models for involving external therapists are identified, each with opportunities and challenges. Practical strategies are outlined to mitigate risks of interprofessional collaboration. Further research is needed to refine clinical frameworks and inform best practices.