Progress in Brain Research
January 1, 2018
D. de Gregorio, J. Enns, N. Nuñez et al.
95 citations
Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric diagnoses with low quality of life and poor response to current drugs, driving research into alternative compounds. Psychedelic medicine, particularly low doses of LSD and psilocybin, has shown antidepressant effects in anecdotal reports and clinical studies. These compounds modulate mood through serotonergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic systems; LSD interacts with 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, D2, and NMDA receptors. Randomized clinical studies have confirmed antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in humans. This chapter reviews psychedelic pharmacology, presents clinical evidence for therapeutic potential in mood disorders, and discusses future directions.
Progress in Brain Research
January 1, 2019
G. Pagnoni
59 citations
Predictive processing theory, which explains perception, action, attention, and learning as all following the principle of minimizing free energy, can unify the scattered findings in contemplative research. This opinion piece introduces the theory's basics, applies it to the Zen meditation practice of shikantaza as a paradigmatic example, and suggests experimental paradigms to test hypotheses derived from this approach, aiming to deepen understanding of meditation-related processes.
Progress in Brain Research
January 1, 2018
K. Murnane
Human research with psychedelics is producing groundbreaking discoveries, modifying enduring personality traits and reducing anxiety, depression, and substance dependence in small but well-designed clinical studies. Psychedelics are advancing through pharmaceutical regulatory systems, and neuroimaging has related their effects to select brain networks. However, preclinical studies have lagged behind this renaissance. Preclinical research offers tight control of experimental parameters, subjects with documented drug histories, and the ability to elucidate signaling cascades and conduct invasive mechanistic studies. Safety pharmacology, biomarkers, and pharmacokinetics can be assessed in disease models to advance psychedelics toward clinical practice. This chapter argues that new preclinical studies would benefit the field.
Progress in Brain Research
January 1, 2009
A. Raffone, N. Srinivasan
A theoretical framework for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC) is proposed, integrating endogenous attention, access consciousness, phenomenal awareness, metacognitive consciousness, and a non-referential unified consciousness. The adaptive workspace hypothesis builds on the global workspace model, emphasizing transient resonant neurodynamics and prefrontal cortex function, particularly the anterior prefrontal cortex. Transient dynamic links within an adaptive coding net, involving ongoing intrinsic and long-range signal exchanges between prefrontal cortex and the rest of the brain, flexibly regulate the interplay among these processes. Moment-to-moment modulation by body and environment states, along with brain regions associated with interoceptive and exteroceptive self-awareness (as highlighted in open monitoring meditation), play a key modulatory role in adaptive workspace transitions.