Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
July 31, 2024
Friederike Holze, Matthias E. Liechti, Felix Müller
4 citations
Psychedelics, including phenethylamines (e.g., mescaline), tryptamines (e.g., psilocybin), and ergolines (e.g., LSD), bind to the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, causing profound alterations in sensation, cognition, emotions, and self-perception. While generally considered physiologically safe compared to other recreational drugs, they carry risks of lasting psychological adverse reactions such as persisting anxiety, dissociation, or flashbacks. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of their pharmacology, origins, psychological and autonomic effects, interactions, risks, dosing, and consumption methods, distinguishing them from other psychoactive drugs like MDMA and ketamine based on distinct receptor profiles.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
January 1, 2026
Eirini K. Argyri, Jules Evans
3 citations
Psychedelic substances can cause ontologically challenging psychedelic experiences (OCPEs) that profoundly disrupt a person's sense of self, reality, and existence. While some individuals integrate these experiences easily, others face lasting ontological instability, existential distress, and impairment. However, ontological challenges are not always negative; for many who feel adequately resourced, they become a valued part of therapeutic growth. Grounding techniques, cognitive reframing, and supportive structures may help recovery and integration. The authors highlight limits of informed consent in psychedelic therapy and argue for preparation and post-experience support attuned to ontological disruptions. Further research is needed to refine best practices.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
July 24, 2024
Kelan Thomas
3 citations
As psychedelics are studied for more medical uses, understanding their adverse effects and interactions with other drugs is increasingly important. This chapter reviews the known toxicology and drug-drug interactions of classic psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, mescaline, 2C-B, Bromo-DragonFLY, and 25X-NBOMe.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
January 1, 2026
Tomislav Majić, Euphrosyne Gouzoulis‐mayfrank, Ricarda Evens
2 citations
Classic psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and 5-MeO-DMT show promise for treating mental health conditions, but enthusiastic media coverage has led to increased non-clinical use and more complications. While these substances have low toxicity and low addiction potential, their risks are often overlooked by mental health professionals, mirroring historical patterns with other psychoactive drugs. The effects unfold in acute, subacute, and long-term phases, essential for understanding both therapeutic use and risks. This overview classifies complications associated with classic psychedelics, examines causal attribution of disorders to their use, and discusses placement in diagnostic systems, aiming to maximize benefits and minimize harms in research and therapy.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
January 1, 2026
Anna-Lena Bröcker, Tomislav Majić, Christiane Montag
2 citations
Psychotic symptoms are uncommon and non-specific adverse effects of classic psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline. They can occur during the acute drug phase, persist into the subacute period, or rarely develop into long-term psychotic illness. The symptoms can be deeply distressing due to rapid changes, unpredictability, and adverse behavioral consequences. Psychedelics have been used as research models for schizophrenia because of phenomenological overlaps, but this "model psychosis" paradigm has been criticized: etiology and psychodynamic background only partially apply.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
October 23, 2024
Wolf E Mehling
2 citations
Bud Craig's elegant studies established the structural neural basis for interoception and redefined pain as a homeostatic emotion, an experience based on inferential brain processes within prediction processing. This chapter reviews how Craig's work provides the background for understanding mind-body therapies—such as meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and Tai Chi—which are now first-line non-pharmacological approaches in clinical guidelines for chronic pain management. Craig's research highlights the key role of interoceptive processes in these therapies and has led to new directions for clinical and neuroscientific research on managing chronic pain.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
August 8, 2024
Erika Dyck, James Dixon
2 citations
Harm reduction, formally recognized in the 1980s during the HIV/AIDS crisis, has earlier roots in psychedelic use. In the 1950s and 1960s, early clinical psychedelic researchers incorporated people-first risk management approaches. During the war on drugs, community-based organizations at music festivals provided harm reduction for those using psychedelics. The Native American Church exemplifies Indigenous traditions that combine psychedelic substances with spirituality and healing in community settings to promote wellness. The authors argue that psychedelic risk management has deep historical roots in biomedical, cultural, and Indigenous communities, offering lessons for sustainable strategies going forward.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
January 1, 2026
Marija Franka Žuljević, Tomislav Majić
1 citation
Flashbacks, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), and reactivations are complications linked to classic psychedelic use, all involving perceptual disturbances similar to acute drug effects. HPPD is persistent, while flashbacks and reactivations are typically transient and cause less distress. HPPD has low relative prevalence but can be clinically significant; many patients mistakenly believe they have it, but only a minority meet diagnostic criteria. In very rare cases, HPPD becomes chronic and requires long-term treatment, but most cases resolve within a year or become tolerable. Evidence-based treatments are lacking, so current knowledge relies on case reports and clinical experience.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
January 1, 2025
1 citation
No Summary
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
November 22, 2025
Maha N Mian, Allison R Coker, Grace Kretzer et al.
Communities that use psychedelics as religious sacraments have developed their own frameworks for safety and hold distinct views on risk and harm. To better understand their lived realities, researchers can collaborate closely with these communities using community-based participatory research (CBPR) practices, which center communities in co-creating research, improve engagement, build trust, and highlight local priorities. This paper presents preliminary findings from a CBPR study with entheogenic communities, sharing lessons learned from forming a community advisory board and initial pilot data gathering. Lessons include consulting community engagement experts, considerations for compensation and confidentiality, using multimodal recruitment strategies, and recognizing the unique historical context of these communities. These lessons aim to develop best practices for psychedelic research, policy, and public education.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
July 25, 2025
Alan N Simmons, Marc Wittmann, Irian A Strigo
This chapter reviews the intellectual legacy of A.D. Bud Craig and advances understanding of interoception across three domains: bodily self, emotion, and subjective time. Beginning with foundational research on temperature and pain processing, it describes how interoceptive signals integrate to form bodily self-representation and emotional experiences, then culminates in how interoception shapes time perception, including in altered states of consciousness. The chapter points to future research on computational modeling of interoceptive processing, personalized treatments based on interoceptive principles, and clinical applications for psychiatric, neurological, and pain conditions, while outlining remaining gaps in continuing Craig's seminal career.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
July 12, 2025
Wolfgang H Sommer, Rainer Spanagel
Over a decade after the first edition of "Behavioral Neurobiology of Alcohol Addiction," the field faces persistent challenges and emerging opportunities in developing treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The translational gap between preclinical findings and new treatments remains, exacerbated by a replicability crisis in animal research, publication biases, and limited predictive validity of existing models. Advances offering renewed hope include molecular and circuit-level technologies, AI-driven data analysis, real-world assessments, and new pharmacological candidates such as GLP-1 agonists and psychedelics. Recognition of inflammation, pain, and neuroimmune factors as integral to AUD is increasing. The authors caution against exaggerated claims and oversimplified models, and argue that neurobiological progress must be complemented by public health strategies to reduce stigma and improve access to care.