Research recaps
125 recaps (and counting)
What each month's new studies found, topic by topic. Every recap is synthesized from that month's papers and links back to each one.
May 2026
- Meditation 16 papers Research on meditation published in May 2026 shows that meditation can improve psychological well-being, reduce stress and burnout in healthcare staff, and induce states phenomenologically similar to depersonalization/derealization that are often experienced positively. However, findings are mixed regarding the mechanisms linking meditation to well-being, and the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, cross-sectional designs, and reliance on self-report measures.
- Anxiety 11 papers Research in May 2026 indicates that psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly psilocybin, show promise for reducing anxiety symptoms, with a systematic review reporting a large within-group effect (Hedge's g = 0.96) and a small between-group effect (Hedge's g = 0.48). However, results are mixed, as preclinical studies also report anxiogenic and null effects, and the evidence is limited by high heterogeneity in study designs and small sample sizes.
- MDMA 12 papers Research published in May 2026 on MDMA shows that while MDMA-assisted therapy produces moderate-to-large reductions in psychopathology compared to controls, especially for trauma, blinding in trials is often insufficient. MDMA reliably enhances subjective social experience and emotional empathy but does not consistently translate into observable prosocial behavior, and its use carries risks including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and severe hyponatremia, particularly in unsupervised settings. The evidence is limited by high heterogeneity, small samples, and a lack of long-term safety data.
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy 11 papers In May 2026, research on psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) showed large within-group effects on anxiety (g=0.96) and small between-group effects (g=0.48), with the intensity of the acute psychedelic experience being the most common predictor of therapeutic response. Qualitative evidence suggests PAT may act as a catalyst for transformation in eating disorders, and cancer patients and carers are open to PAT if risks are carefully managed. However, evidence is limited by high heterogeneity across studies, small sample sizes, and a lack of controlled trials in many areas.
- Depression 25 papers In May 2026, research on depression focused heavily on ketamine and esketamine for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), with consistent evidence of rapid antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects, though durability and blinding remain key caveats. Psilocybin-assisted therapy also showed sustained antidepressant benefits up to 12 months in TRD, while a small RCT found ketamine not superior to midazolam, highlighting the impact of functional unblinding. Overall, novel rapid-acting treatments show promise but require better-controlled long-term studies.
- Psilocybin 25 papers In May 2026, research on psilocybin showed large within-group effects on anxiety (g=0.96) and small between-group effects (g=0.48), with long-term antidepressant benefits persisting up to 12 months in treatment-resistant depression. However, blinding integrity was insufficient, with psilocybin showing the highest rates of functional unblinding, and evidence for cocaine use disorder and other conditions remains mixed or preliminary. The main caveat is that many studies are open-label, small, or have high heterogeneity, limiting the strength of conclusions.
- LSD 9 papers Research on LSD in May 2026 found that it reverses aging- and neurodegeneration-associated brain transcriptional programs in rodents, prolongs brain-stimulation-induced neural activity changes, and persistently reduces affective pain processing in rats. In a clinical trial, LSD treatment was associated with white matter microstructural changes that correlated with antidepressant effects in major depression. However, an observational study linked LSD use to higher insomnia severity among young adult cannabis consumers, and a review highlighted the lack of systematic evaluation of pharmacological interventions for adverse psychedelic experiences.
- DMT 10 papers Research on DMT in May 2026 explored its neuroprotective potential in Parkinson's disease and stroke models, its effects on brain dynamics and autonomic arousal, and its subjective effects modulated by 5-HT1A receptors. Findings were mixed: DMT showed anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in preclinical models, but also increased insomnia severity in a small observational study. The evidence is limited by small sample sizes, preclinical designs, and lack of clinical trials.
- Addiction 6 papers Research in May 2026 suggests psilocybin may be effective for cocaine addiction, with one small study reporting 'remarkable' results, and an epigenetic study in alcohol use disorder identified methylome changes linked to psilocybin treatment. Ibogaine was associated with rapid detoxification and sustained abstinence in opioid-dependent individuals, though relapse occurred. However, evidence is limited by small sample sizes, lack of primary endpoint achievement, and qualitative designs.
- Altered states of consciousness 11 papers Research in May 2026 on altered states of consciousness, particularly ayahuasca, shows preliminary evidence of changes in brain topology (persistent entropy) and potential therapeutic benefits for suicidality and Parkinson's disease, but findings are limited by small samples, lack of controls, and mixed results regarding cumulative effects on ego dissolution compared to meditation. A case report also highlights serious risks of serotonin syndrome when ayahuasca is combined with other serotonergic drugs. Overall, the evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions due to small sample sizes, exploratory designs, and inconsistent findings.
April 2026
- Serotonin 5 papers Research on serotonin in April 2026 focused on developing novel serotonergic compounds and understanding psychedelic mechanisms. Studies introduced 2-halogenated tryptamines as potential next-generation therapeutics with reduced psychoactivity and cardiotoxicity, and identified a conserved glucocorticoid-responsive gene signature induced by psilocybin across multiple brain regions in rats. However, evidence for clinical efficacy in conditions like Alzheimer's disease remains preclinical and hypothesis-generating, and the field is still limited by small sample sizes and lack of human trials.
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy 6 papers Research published in April 2026 indicates that psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise for reducing substance misuse and suicidal ideation, with large effect sizes reported for DMT on substance use reduction and consistent reductions in suicidal ideation with ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression. However, the evidence is limited by high heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and a lack of large-scale longitudinal studies, and findings from adult studies cannot be directly applied to adolescents due to distinct developmental and ethical considerations.
- MDMA 11 papers Research on MDMA in April 2026 primarily explored its therapeutic potential for conditions like PTSD, social anxiety in autism, and alcohol dependence, while also investigating its risks, including cardiotoxicity, reproductive effects, and drug interactions. Findings are mixed: preclinical studies show MDMA can cause oxidative stress and testicular dysfunction in rats, but a matched case-control study found antidepressant use was inversely associated with MDMA fatalities, and a narrative review noted that single doses (75-125 mg) enhance mood and empathy but transiently impair memory. The evidence is limited by small sample sizes, animal models, and a lack of large-scale human trials, making conclusions tentative.
- DMT 9 papers Research on DMT in April 2026 shows that DMT and related compounds (5-MeO-DMT, ayahuasca) have large effects on reducing substance misuse (g=0.94) and suicidal ideation in depression, but these findings come from studies with high risk of bias and heterogeneity. A reanalysis of EEG data found that DMT causes bidirectional collapse of alpha wave power rather than an increase in forward waves, challenging prior interpretations. The evidence is limited by small samples, open-label designs, and a lack of large-scale controlled trials.
- Psilocybin 25 papers In April 2026, research on psilocybin showed mixed results: meta-analyses of depression trials found large effect sizes but low certainty due to methodological issues like waitlist controls and unblinding, while preclinical studies demonstrated sustained anti-nociceptive effects in mice and enhanced fear extinction after stress. A key caveat is that the clinical evidence remains preliminary and context-dependent, with no robust Phase 3 confirmation.
- Neuroplasticity 10 papers Research in April 2026 consistently found that various interventions (ketamine, ayahuasca, muscimol, and classic hallucinogens) promote neuroplasticity through mechanisms such as BDNF upregulation, synaptic scaling, and modulation of glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways, with effects observed in depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's models. However, the evidence is largely preclinical or from small clinical studies, and the durability and optimal dosing of these neuroplasticity effects remain unclear.
- Mysticism 12 papers Research on mysticism in April 2026 was predominantly theoretical and philosophical, with no empirical studies directly testing mystical experiences. The literature explored mystical consciousness through historical figures (al-Hallaj, al-Ghazālī, Palamas), proposed theoretical models (parametric introspection, panpsychist shamanism), and examined cultural entanglements (psychedelic medicine, Daoist practices). The evidence is insufficient to draw any empirical conclusion about the nature or effects of mystical experiences.
- LSD 8 papers Research on LSD in April 2026 primarily consisted of reviews and commentaries, with no new clinical trials reported. The evidence suggests LSD has therapeutic potential for conditions like depression and fibromyalgia, but findings are based on historical data, animal models, and proposed mechanisms rather than recent human trials. A key caveat is the lack of empirical support for mechanisms like repressed memory recovery and the methodological challenges in psychedelic research.
- Buddhism 4 papers The research on Buddhism in April 2026 is primarily philosophical and comparative, not empirical. One study argues that Longchenpa's 'breakthrough practice' (khregs chod) reframes awareness as a form of freedom from ossified structures of consciousness, while another preprint identifies a structural convergence across Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, and psychoanalysis on the idea that the self is not the final layer of personhood. The evidence is theoretical and does not provide testable or generalizable findings about Buddhist practice or its effects.
- Meditation 14 papers Research on meditation published in April 2026 shows consistent benefits for mental health and well-being across diverse populations, including reduced internalizing symptoms, improved professional quality of life in nurses, and enhanced pain-related outcomes in fibromyalgia. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, reliance on self-report measures, and a lack of long-term follow-up data.
- Philosophy of mind 19 papers Research on philosophy of mind in April 2026 focused on phenomenological and enactive accounts of selfhood, consciousness, and perception, with consistent findings that minimal selfhood is grounded in bodily and coenesthetic experience, that consciousness is better understood as intermittent rather than continuous, and that folk conceptions of perception are conflicted between direct and indirect realism. A key caveat is that most studies are theoretical or small-scale empirical, limiting generalizability.
- Depression 25 papers In April 2026, research on depression focused heavily on treatment-resistant depression (TRD), with multiple studies examining ketamine/esketamine, psilocybin, and other novel agents. Findings were mixed: meta-analyses of psilocybin showed large effect sizes but low certainty due to methodological issues like waitlist controls and unblinding, while ketamine/esketamine studies reported rapid but often transient antidepressant effects. A key caveat is that most evidence comes from small, open-label, or short-term studies, limiting the durability and generalizability of conclusions.
- Anxiety 5 papers Research on anxiety in April 2026 is limited and indirect. One animal study found that ayahuasca reversed chronic stress-induced anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish, suggesting potential anxiolytic effects. However, a large retrospective cohort study found that anxiety disorders are common in individuals with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) and predict its development, indicating a risk factor. No human clinical trials directly testing psychedelics for anxiety were identified in this set.
- Altered states of consciousness 10 papers Research in April 2026 found that ayahuasca consistently reduces suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, with effects linked to neuroplasticity and default mode network modulation. A large longitudinal study showed lasting improvements in personality, quality of life, and decentering among Western participants in Shipibo-led retreats, with minimal adverse effects. However, evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and lack of large-scale controlled trials.
- Cannabis 4 papers In April 2026, research on cannabis found that cannabis-induced psychosis is characterized by prominent positive symptoms and elevated affective features, with a 36-46% transition rate to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Regular cannabis use was associated with altered neural and behavioral responses during reward processing, though findings remain inconsistent. Among U.S. cancer survivors aged 50+, lifetime cannabis use prevalence was similar to those without cancer (41.6% vs 42.6%) between 2015-2019, but differences were not significant in 2021-2022. A brief educational video about delta-8 THC increased knowledge and lowered intentions to use among college students with prior but not recent use. Caveats include the need for more consistent findings on neural effects and limited generalizability of the educational intervention.
- Default mode network 4 papers Research in April 2026 consistently finds that the default mode network (DMN) is suppressed or desynchronized across diverse altered states, including psychedelic therapy, the 'awakening' state, and transpersonal practices. Evidence comes from narrative reviews, a single-subject EEG case study, and a cross-sectional fMRI study, but the latter shows reduced DMN differentiation to emotional stimuli rather than outright suppression. The main caveat is the limited and heterogeneous evidence base, with no large-scale controlled trials specifically targeting DMN dynamics.
- Ayahuasca 7 papers Research on ayahuasca published in April 2026 indicates that it shows promise as a rapid-acting intervention for reducing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms, with consistent evidence from systematic reviews and a large longitudinal study showing improvements in personality, quality of life, and decentering. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and a lack of large-scale, rigorous longitudinal studies.
- Addiction 6 papers Research on addiction in April 2026 is limited and preliminary. A narrative review suggests ibogaine shows promise for substance use disorders but raises serious safety concerns, particularly cardiotoxicity. A preclinical study found that psilocybin did not restore social deficits caused by methamphetamine-fentanyl withdrawal in rats. Overall, the evidence is sparse, mostly preclinical or review-based, and does not support a clear conclusion about the efficacy of psychedelics for addiction.
- Ketamine 25 papers Research on ketamine in April 2026 continued to show rapid antidepressant effects, particularly for treatment-resistant depression, but with variable response and notable side effects. Evidence from multiple studies supports its efficacy, though durability of response and optimal dosing intervals remain key concerns. The main caveat is that most studies have short follow-up periods and small sample sizes, limiting generalizability.