February 2026
Neuroplasticity
What February 2026's 11 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Neuroplasticity research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 11 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for Neuroplasticity, neural plasticity, brain plasticity, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, then ranked by relevance.
Research in February 2026 consistently indicates that psychedelic compounds (psilocybin, ayahuasca/DMT, ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, 2C-B) promote neuroplasticity through mechanisms such as BDNF/TrkB signaling, dendritic growth, synaptogenesis, and activity-dependent cortical network reorganization. However, most evidence comes from preclinical rodent and non-human primate studies, with human data limited to neuroimaging and theoretical reviews, so the clinical translation remains uncertain.
Confidence in the evidence
Low-Moderate- Multiple preclinical studies (rodent, non-human primate) show consistent positive effects on neuroplasticity markers (e.g., BDNF, dendritic spines, cortical volume).
- Human neuroimaging study (2C-B/psilocybin) provides direct evidence of functional connectivity changes, but sample size is small (n=22).
- Most studies are reviews or theoretical, lacking large-scale human RCTs directly measuring neuroplasticity.
- No studies in this set report long-term durability or clinical outcomes in humans for neuroplasticity specifically.
How we rate confidence
Confidence reflects the strength of the underlying evidence, not whether the result is favorable. It weighs the number and size of studies, their design (randomized trials count for more than observational or single-case work), how consistently they point the same way, and their risk of bias.
Tiers run from Insufficient to High. High is rare in this field: small, early, or open-label studies land lower even when their direction is encouraging.
Evidence by study
Direction is each study's finding relative to your question: Supports, Opposes, No effect, Mixed, or Unclear.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca and Its Main Component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) for the Treatment of Mental Disorders: Mechanisms of Action, Clinical Studies, and Tools to Explore the Human Mind 2026 | review | Supports | DMT and 5-MeO-DMT foster neuroplasticity and reorganization of brain networks involved in perception, cognition, and mood regulation. | |
| Preliminary analysis of ayahuasca-induced anatomical alterations in the somatosensory cortex of juvenile non-human primates (Callithrix jacchus) subjected to chronic stress 2026 | preclinical | Supports | Ayahuasca prevented stress-induced reductions in neuronal volume in the somatosensory cortex, suggesting a prophylactic effect on neural plasticity. | |
| Sex-dependent developmental changes in behavior, brain structure, functional connectivity, and sensory perception following exposure to psilocybin during adolescence 2026 | preclinical | Mixed | Psilocybin during adolescence caused sex-dependent changes in brain volume, water diffusivity, and functional connectivity, with regional reductions in volume affecting males more than females. | |
| MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD: Neuroplastic Change or Psychotherapeutic Catalyst? 2026 | review | Supports | MDMA supports trauma reprocessing through neuroplasticity mechanisms including fear extinction, memory reconsolidation, and changes in amygdala and hippocampal connectivity. | |
| Ischemia-Induced Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma: Mechanistic Insights and Translational Opportunities for Psychoplastogen-Based Therapies 2026 | review | Supports | Psychoplastogens (ketamine, psilocybin, DMT) enhance structural and functional neuroplasticity via BDNF-TrkB-mTOR signaling, promoting dendritic growth and synaptogenesis. | |
| Psilocybin improves novel object recognition in a rat model of Fragile X Syndrome through the modulation of the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway 2026 | preclinical | Supports | Psilocybin rescued object recognition memory deficits via BDNF/TrkB-AKT signaling, independent of 5-HT2A/5-HT1A receptor activation. | |
| Neurorestorative Properties of Ibogaine: Linking Multi-Receptor Affinities to Remyelination and Metabolic Restoration 2026 | review | Supports | Ibogaine upregulates myelination markers and facilitates lasting neuroplasticity, immunomodulation, and neuronal repair via multi-receptor actions. | |
| Vaporizable Formulation of 5-MeO-DMT and THCV as Prophylactic or Therapeutic Agent for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and Anxiety Disorders 2026 | theoretical | Supports | A 5-MeO-DMT/THCV combination is proposed to leverage neuroplastic benefits of the tryptamine while reducing anxiety, offering potential for treatment-resistant depression. | |
| Activity-Dependent Neural Rewiring: Mechanisms of Psilocybin-Induced Cortical Network Reorganization 2026 | review | Supports | Psilocybin induces activity-dependent rewiring of cortical networks, strengthening sensory/subcortical pathways and weakening cortico-cortical loops. | |
| Spatiotemporal mapping of brain organisation following the administration of 2C-B and psilocybin 2026 | within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover neuroimaging study | 22 | Supports | 2C-B and psilocybin both reduced intranetwork connectivity and increased between-network connectivity, with 2C-B showing less disruption of dynamic connectivity. |
| Ayahuasca modulation of traumatic-like fear memories requires infralimbic cortex BDNF-dependent mechanisms in rats. 2026 | preclinical | Supports | Ayahuasca enhanced fear extinction and reduced fear generalization via BDNF-dependent mechanisms in the infralimbic cortex. |
DMT and 5-MeO-DMT foster neuroplasticity and reorganization of brain networks involved in perception, cognition, and mood regulation.
review
Ayahuasca prevented stress-induced reductions in neuronal volume in the somatosensory cortex, suggesting a prophylactic effect on neural plasticity.
preclinical
Psilocybin during adolescence caused sex-dependent changes in brain volume, water diffusivity, and functional connectivity, with regional reductions in volume affecting males more than females.
preclinical
MDMA supports trauma reprocessing through neuroplasticity mechanisms including fear extinction, memory reconsolidation, and changes in amygdala and hippocampal connectivity.
review
Psychoplastogens (ketamine, psilocybin, DMT) enhance structural and functional neuroplasticity via BDNF-TrkB-mTOR signaling, promoting dendritic growth and synaptogenesis.
review
Psilocybin rescued object recognition memory deficits via BDNF/TrkB-AKT signaling, independent of 5-HT2A/5-HT1A receptor activation.
preclinical
Ibogaine upregulates myelination markers and facilitates lasting neuroplasticity, immunomodulation, and neuronal repair via multi-receptor actions.
review
A 5-MeO-DMT/THCV combination is proposed to leverage neuroplastic benefits of the tryptamine while reducing anxiety, offering potential for treatment-resistant depression.
theoretical
Psilocybin induces activity-dependent rewiring of cortical networks, strengthening sensory/subcortical pathways and weakening cortico-cortical loops.
review
2C-B and psilocybin both reduced intranetwork connectivity and increased between-network connectivity, with 2C-B showing less disruption of dynamic connectivity.
within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover neuroimaging study Sample size: 22
Ayahuasca enhanced fear extinction and reduced fear generalization via BDNF-dependent mechanisms in the infralimbic cortex.
preclinical
Points of agreement
- Psychedelics (psilocybin, DMT/ayahuasca, ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT) promote neuroplasticity through BDNF/TrkB signaling and related pathways.
- Preclinical studies consistently show structural changes (dendritic growth, synaptogenesis, cortical volume preservation) after psychedelic administration.
- Neuroimaging in humans shows psychedelics alter functional connectivity, reducing within-network and increasing between-network connectivity.
Conflicts
- One study (psilocybin in adolescent mice) found sex-dependent effects on brain volume, with males showing more reductions, while another (ayahuasca in rats) found BDNF-dependent fear extinction effects were sex-specific in the infralimbic cortex.
- 2C-B and psilocybin showed similar but not identical effects on dynamic connectivity, with 2C-B producing less disruption.
Gaps
- No large-scale human RCTs directly measuring neuroplasticity as a primary outcome.
- Durability of neuroplastic changes beyond acute administration is not addressed.
- Most studies use preclinical models; human data are limited to neuroimaging and reviews.
- Sex differences and developmental stage effects are underexplored in humans.
- Clinical translation of neuroplasticity findings to therapeutic outcomes remains unclear.