Psychedelics and disorders of consciousness: the current landscape and the path forward.
Paolo Cardone, Naji Alnagger, Jitka Annen, Aminata Bicego, Olivia Gosseries, Charlotte Martial
Neurosci Conscious June 15, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niae025 via PubMed Central
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsychedelic substances, already being tested for psychiatric conditions like depression and PTSD, might also help people with disorders of consciousness caused by brain injury. The article discusses the rationale for using complexity-enhancing psychedelics in post-comatose patients, proposing an optimal level of brain complexity for recovery. It examines how psychedelics and disorders of consciousness may have counterintuitive effects on the default mode network and selfhood. Computational modeling could complement experimental studies to clarify treatment mechanisms and enable personalized medicine. The authors update ethical considerations for this clinical and scientific endeavor.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Neuroscience Psychedelics Consciousness Medical-research Brain-disorders |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key finding | Psychedelics may offer a novel treatment for disorders of consciousness by enhancing brain complexity, but outcomes could be counterintuitive due to interactions with the default mode network and selfhood. |
Abstract
Modern medicine has been shaken by the surge of psychedelic science that proposes a new approach to mitigate mental disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinical trials to investigate whether psychedelic substances can treat psychiatric conditions are now underway, yet less discussion gravitates around their use in neurological disorders due to brain injury. One suggested implementation of brain-complexity enhancing psychedelics is to treat people with post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC). In this article, we discuss the rationale of this endeavour, examining possible outcomes of such experiments by postulating the existence of an optimal level of complexity. We consider the possible counterintuitive effects of both psychedelics and DoC on the functional connectivity of the default mode network and its possible impact on selfhood. We also elaborate on the role of computational modelling in providing complementary information to experimental studies, both contributing to our understanding of the treatment mechanisms and providing a path towards personalized medicine. Finally, we update the discourse surrounding the ethical considerations, encompassing clinical and scientific values.