Research recaps

January 2026

• Psilocybin 25 papers Research in January 2026 consistently indicates that psilocybin-assisted therapy shows promising, rapid, robust, and sustained antidepressant effects for major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant depression, and for psychological distress in palliative care. Mechanistically, it appears to act through 5-HT2A receptor agonism, enhancing neuroplasticity and reorganizing brain networks. A main caveat is the need for further research on long-term safety and efficacy, optimal treatment protocols, and careful consideration for populations like those with bipolar disorder due to reported risks of mania or psychosis.
• Neuroplasticity 11 papers Research published in January 2026 consistently finds that serotonergic psychedelics (psilocybin, DMT) promote neuroplasticity—including synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, and synaptic remodeling—which is linked to rapid and sustained antidepressant effects. Evidence comes from preclinical models, human neuroimaging, and clinical trials, but most studies are reviews or small-sample experiments, and durability beyond one year remains unstudied.
• Mysticism 12 papers Research on mysticism in January 2026 was predominantly theoretical and comparative, exploring mystical experiences across religious traditions, philosophical frameworks, and their ethical implications. Empirical studies were limited, with one finding that psychological context ('set') is more strongly associated with psychedelic outcomes than substance type, and another showing that spirituality, intentions, and mindset are significantly correlated with mystical experiences in psilocybin-assisted therapy. The evidence is insufficient to draw broad conclusions about mysticism due to the scarcity of empirical studies and the dominance of theoretical analyses.
• Anxiety 25 papers Research on anxiety in January 2026 shows mixed results: mindfulness-based interventions (MBSR, brief meditation, mindful walking) and yoga generally reduce anxiety in specific populations (autism, cancer, athletes, emergency medicine residents), while ketamine and psilocybin studies report both anxiolytic effects and potential for increased anxiety-like behaviors depending on dose, context, and population. However, many studies are small, open-label, or preclinical, and findings are not always consistent, limiting generalizability.
• Buddhism 9 papers Research on Buddhism in January 2026 focused on theoretical and philosophical analyses of meditation, cognition, and ethics, rather than empirical outcomes. Studies examined the cognitive theory in early Buddhist texts, the relationship between language and cognition, and the ethical integration of mindfulness in oncology, but provided no quantitative data on effects. The evidence is entirely conceptual and qualitative, precluding any empirical conclusion about the direction or magnitude of effects.