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.
March 2026
- Shamanism 4 papers Research on shamanism published in March 2026 is diverse and largely historical or qualitative, with no single consistent finding across studies. One study finds that Hmong shamans understand depression through cultural and spiritual frameworks, but results are limited by a small sample and qualitative design. The other three studies are historical analyses of shamanism in Soviet cinema, Buddhist-animist convergence, and ancient Chinese music, which do not directly address contemporary clinical or experimental questions. Overall, the evidence is insufficient to draw a generalizable conclusion about shamanism in March 2026.
- Ibogaine 5 papers Research on ibogaine in March 2026 shows that ibogaine and its derivative oxa-noribogaine reduce alcohol consumption in rats and are associated with long-term PTSD symptom improvement in veterans, with evidence of brain network reorganization. However, ibogaine did not prevent cocaine relapse in rats, and historical and safety concerns regarding plant authenticity were highlighted. The evidence is limited by small sample sizes, preclinical models, and observational designs.
- Psychedelic-assisted therapy 9 papers Research in March 2026 indicates that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is being explored for a range of conditions including substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, and existential distress, with qualitative studies highlighting clinician and patient support alongside concerns about implementation, safety, and equity. The evidence is largely qualitative or review-based, with no new large-scale controlled trials reported, and key limitations include small sample sizes, lack of generalizability, and unresolved methodological issues such as blinding and safety monitoring.
- DMT 10 papers Research on DMT in March 2026 was limited to a few small-scale studies and theoretical proposals. One double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 20 healthy participants found that intravenous bolus DMT produces very strong, short-lived subjective effects with a ceiling at 15 mg and no acute tolerance, but tolerability was better with open-label dosing. Other studies were either in-silico toxicity predictions, computational sensor designs, or theoretical protocols for testing quantum spin effects, with no direct clinical efficacy data from this period.
- MDMA 17 papers Research on MDMA in March 2026 confirms that MDMA-assisted therapy reduces PTSD symptoms (moderate-to-large effect sizes) and increases response/remission rates, but the evidence is rated low certainty due to blinding challenges, expectancy effects, and high risk of bias. Preclinical studies show MDMA enhances fear extinction via prefrontal plasticity and reduces stress-induced alcohol intake in a genotype-dependent manner, while also revealing transient next-day anxiety and serotonin reductions in rats. A key caveat is that no new large-scale, well-controlled human trials were published in this period, and the FDA declined approval in 2024 citing insufficient evidence.
- Mysticism 10 papers In March 2026, empirical research on mysticism found that mystical oneness experiences induced by psychedelics are strongly correlated with luminous light, renewal, and ego disintegration in a dose-dependent manner, supporting a dynamic model of mystical experience. Other studies explored mysticism through literary, theological, and comparative frameworks, but these were qualitative or theoretical and did not provide empirical evidence on the nature or effects of mystical experiences. The evidence is limited to one large controlled study on psychedelic-induced mysticism, with the remainder being non-empirical, so conclusions about mysticism broadly are tentative.
- Psilocybin 25 papers In March 2026, research on psilocybin showed mixed results: the largest and most rigorous trial (EPIsoDE) failed its primary endpoint for treatment-resistant depression, while smaller trials and observational studies suggested potential benefits for OCD and smoking cessation. Preclinical work consistently found psilocin enhances neuroplasticity in human neurons and dampens aversive representations in mice, but clinical evidence is limited by small samples, open-label designs, and blinding failures.
- Philosophy of mind 15 papers Research on philosophy of mind in March 2026 is diverse and largely theoretical, with no single empirical conclusion. Studies explore frameworks like Analytic Idealism, mental construction, and the integration of phenomenology with neuroscience, but they do not provide consistent, testable findings. The evidence is insufficient to draw a unified conclusion about the nature of mind or consciousness.
- Ayahuasca 7 papers Research on ayahuasca published in March 2026 indicates consistent positive associations with mental health, well-being, and cognitive function, though the evidence is largely observational and cross-sectional. Studies report reductions in depression and anxiety, improvements in quality of life and spiritual well-being, and enhanced cognitive flexibility and empathy, with no long-term deficits observed. However, the lack of longitudinal and controlled designs limits causal conclusions, and most samples are small or self-selected.
- Neuroplasticity 11 papers Research in March 2026 consistently demonstrates that psychedelic compounds such as psilocin, MDMA, and oxa-noribogaine enhance neuroplasticity at the cellular and synaptic level in both human stem-cell-derived neurons and animal models. The evidence is robust across multiple studies, but is largely preclinical, with limited clinical translation and small sample sizes in human surveys.
- Serotonin 15 papers Research in March 2026 found that serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin promote neuroplasticity through 5-HT2A receptor signaling and BDNF-TrkB pathways, with effects on synaptic structure, brain network propagation, and affective bias. Results are consistent across cellular, rodent, and human studies, but most evidence comes from preclinical models and small clinical samples, with limited data on long-term durability and clinical translation.
- Altered states of consciousness 6 papers Research in March 2026 indicates that ayahuasca use is associated with positive health and well-being outcomes, including better mental health, lifestyle behaviors, and cognitive improvements, though most evidence is observational and cross-sectional. A new questionnaire was developed to measure subjective effects of very low doses of psychedelics, addressing a gap in microdosing research. A theoretical paper explored phenomenological aspects of ayahuasca-induced altered consciousness. The main caveat is the lack of longitudinal and controlled studies to establish causality.
- Default mode network 6 papers Research in March 2026 found that LSD induces a frequency-selective decoupling of the default mode network (DMN) from structural brain constraints, with gamma-band decoupling in core DMN regions specifically predicting ego dissolution. A systematic review of psilocybin fMRI studies noted that most research has focused on regions like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, but highlighted inconsistency in methods and designs. The evidence is limited by the small number of studies directly addressing the DMN in March 2026 and the methodological variability noted in the review.
- Meditation 24 papers Research on meditation published in March 2026 shows that deconstructive meditative practices (e.g., Vipassana, insight meditation) can improve mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and stress, though findings vary by study design and intervention characteristics. A three-arm RCT found that both focused-attention and self-inquiry meditation reduced depressive symptoms and identity threat compared to a waitlist, with focused-attention showing greater reductions in dysfunctional attitudes. However, the evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity, a small number of RCTs, and reliance on self-report measures, with durability of effects remaining unclear.
- LSD 7 papers Research in March 2026 indicates that LSD alters human brain dynamics by decoupling low-frequency activity from anatomical constraints and reorganizing high-frequency gamma activity, with gamma-band changes predicting ego dissolution. Low doses of LSD (13 and 26 µg) also produced significant, measurable subjective effects in healthy volunteers. However, national data showed a decline in past-year LSD use in the US between 2021 and 2023, and its therapeutic potential in areas like adolescent mental health, palliative care, and opioid use disorder remains largely under investigation or lacks clear positive findings from the provided studies.
- Addiction 14 papers Research in March 2026 indicates that psychedelic compounds, particularly ketamine and ibogaine derivatives, show promise for reducing substance use and improving comorbid depression, but evidence remains preliminary. Findings are mixed: oxa-noribogaine reduced alcohol drinking in rats, open-label extension data on psilocybin for alcohol use disorder is pending, and small observational studies suggest ketamine may reduce substance misuse in chronic pain patients. However, the evidence is limited by small samples, open-label designs, and lack of controlled trials in representative clinical populations.
- PTSD 10 papers Research in March 2026 found that MDMA-assisted therapy reduces PTSD symptoms (moderate-to-large effect sizes) and increases response/remission rates, though evidence certainty is low due to blinding and expectancy issues. Ketamine also shows efficacy for PTSD, with emerging mechanistic insights, and ibogaine was associated with long-term symptom improvement in veterans linked to brain network reorganization. However, most evidence is limited by small samples, high risk of bias, and lack of active comparators.
- Anxiety 14 papers Research in March 2026 indicates that psychedelic experiences, particularly those involving mystical-type experiences, are associated with moderate-to-large reductions in death anxiety, especially in clinical settings. However, the relationship between psychedelic use and general anxiety is moderated by age, with benefits observed in younger adults but diminishing or reversing in older populations. Evidence is limited by small sample sizes, potential publication bias, and reliance on retrospective or open-label designs.
- Mystical experience 4 papers Research in March 2026 found that mystical experiences induced by esketamine in treatment-resistant depression patients are common (58% of patients) and associated with greater antidepressant improvement, while a scoping review across psychedelic therapy trials confirmed that mystical-type experiences are linked to reduced anxiety and depression in both life-threatening disease and depressive populations. A conceptual model proposed that ego dissolution reduces death anxiety and improves impulse regulation, and an LSD neuroimaging study showed that ego dissolution is specifically linked to frequency-selective decoupling of the default-mode network. Caveats include the observational design of the esketamine study, the conceptual nature of the psychological model, and the need for further empirical validation across populations.
- Depression 25 papers Research in March 2026 confirms that both psilocybin and esketamine are effective for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), with psilocybin showing response rates around 50% in a triple-blind trial and esketamine showing 70% response in real-world settings. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, open-label designs, and a lack of long-term durability data.
- Buddhism 12 papers Research on Buddhism in March 2026 was primarily philosophical, textual, and comparative, with no new empirical studies on Buddhist practice outcomes. The evidence consistently shows that Buddhist concepts of consciousness, meditation, and self-negation are being analyzed across traditions (Pali, Mahayana, Tibetan) and in dialogue with Western philosophy, but no controlled trials or clinical findings were reported. The main caveat is that the available studies are entirely theoretical or qualitative, providing no quantitative data on efficacy or mechanisms.
- Cannabis 7 papers Research published in March 2026 indicates that cannabis constituents THC and CBD have distinct neurophysiological effects: THC increases brain connectivity and blood flow, while CBD can mitigate THC-induced changes and ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion. Low-dose cannabis edibles impair verbal memory but not executive function or hazard perception in frequent users, and blood THC levels do not correlate with cognitive performance. However, these findings are based on small samples and animal models, limiting generalizability.
February 2026
- Microdosing 9 papers Research on microdosing in February 2026 shows mixed results: a small Phase 2 RCT found no significant antidepressant effect of microdosed psilocybin over placebo, while a Phase 2a trial of LSD microdosing reported short-term mood improvements in depression. Epidemiological data indicate microdosing is common among young adults who use hallucinogens and is associated with higher rates of other substance use. The evidence is limited by small sample sizes, open-label phases, and a lack of consistent controlled findings.
- Philosophy of mind 9 papers In February 2026, philosophy of mind research explored diverse topics including the integration of computational neurophenomenology with psychiatric models of self, critiques of artificial intelligence's lack of consciousness and understanding, defenses of grounding physicalism against the hard problem of consciousness, and analyses of enactivism as a radical departure from traditional cognitive science. The findings are largely theoretical and conceptual, with no empirical consensus on a single question, and the evidence is insufficient to draw a unified conclusion due to the absence of empirical studies directly addressing a common hypothesis.
- MDMA 16 papers Research on MDMA in February 2026 shows mixed findings: it may reduce prosocial behavior in rats and has potential cardiac risks with chronic use, but also shows promise for PTSD treatment through neuroplastic and relational mechanisms, with some evidence of benefit for meaning in life in trauma-exposed individuals. Results are inconsistent across studies, with many being preclinical or small-scale, and the evidence is limited by a lack of large, controlled human trials and long-term safety data.
- Altered states of consciousness 8 papers Research in February 2026 indicates that ayahuasca and its main psychoactive component DMT show promise for treating mental disorders and modulating fear memories, with evidence from preclinical and observational human studies suggesting enhanced neuroplasticity and reduced default mode network activity. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, a lack of randomized controlled trials, and potential drug-drug interactions with SSRIs. The findings are consistent in pointing toward therapeutic potential but remain preliminary.
- LSD 11 papers Research on LSD in February 2026 shows short-term mood improvements from microdosing in depression (Phase 2a trial) and significant antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in a large compassionate-use cohort, but also identifies potential cardiac risks from chronic use via 5-HT2B receptor activation. Results are consistent across clinical and real-world settings, but the evidence is limited by small samples, open-label designs, and lack of long-term safety data.
- Meditation 25 papers In February 2026, meditation research showed that different mantra types produce distinct alpha EEG dynamics (activating vs. relaxing), and that mindfulness-based interventions consistently reduce perceived stress in non-clinical adults (moderate effect). However, evidence for mindfulness reducing psychotic-like experiences or improving health behaviors was mixed or null, and many studies were small, uncontrolled, or feasibility designs, limiting generalizability.
- Psilocybin 25 papers Research on psilocybin in February 2026 shows promising but preliminary therapeutic effects across several conditions, including post-treatment Lyme disease, treatment-resistant depression, and OCD, with improvements often sustained for months. However, evidence is limited by small sample sizes, open-label designs, and a lack of robust placebo controls in many studies, and a microdosing trial for MDD found no difference from placebo. The main caveat is that while acute effects and short-term safety appear favorable, long-term data and large-scale confirmatory trials are still needed.
- Addiction 7 papers Research in February 2026 indicates that psychedelic compounds like ketamine, ibogaine, and psilocybin show promise for treating substance use disorders, but evidence is mixed and often preliminary. Ketamine's effects on alcohol use disorder do not appear to be mediated by its acute psychoactive effects, while ibogaine's clinical translation is constrained by safety concerns and fragmented evidence. A major caveat is that much of the evidence comes from reviews and secondary analyses, with limited large-scale, controlled trials.