236 results for "Neural Correlates"
Time-resolved Neural and Experience Dynamics of Medium- and High-dose N,N-Dimethyltryptamine.
Apollo (University of Cambridge) – December 30, 2025
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, significantly alters consciousness and brain dynamics. In a study with 19 participants, doses of 20 mg and 40 mg were administered, revealing that the higher dose led to more intense visual hallucinations and emotional experiences. Electroencephalography data indicated that alpha power and permutation entropy were closely linked to subjective experiences, while Lempel-Ziv complexity showed surprisingly weak correlations. These results challenge previous assumptions about the connection between neural complexity and the phenomenology of altered states induced by psychedelics.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a fast-acting psychedelic drug that induces a radical reorganization of conscious contents and brain dynamics. Howe...
Conscious and unconscious perception of pitch shifts in auditory feedback during vocalization: Behavioral functions and event-related potential correlates.
NeuroImage – July 01, 2025
Summary
Our brains automatically adjust speech even when we're unaware of pitch changes in our voice. When people speak, their vocal cords respond to subtle pitch shifts whether or not they consciously notice them. Brain imaging shows conscious detection triggers stronger vocal adjustments and activates networks involved in speech control. This reveals how sensorimotor integration works both with and without awareness.
Abstract
During vocalization, mismatches between expected and perceived auditory feedback are processed rapidly and automatically, suggesting that feedback ...
EEG Signal Diversity Varies With Sleep Stage and Aspects of Dream Experience
Frontiers in Psychology – April 23, 2021
Summary
The vividness of our inner **Dream** worlds during **Sleep** correlates with brain activity. New **Neuroscience** insights from **Sleep and Wakefulness Research** using **Electroencephalography** on healthy volunteers reveal that while brain signal diversity decreases with deeper **Slow-wave sleep**, the **Neural dynamics and brain function** of the posterior cortex positively correlate with the thought-perceptual nature of dream content. This **Cognitive psychology** finding, impacting our understanding of **Consciousness** and **Perception**, suggests the richness of dreams, much like **Mind-wandering** in **Wakefulness**, is reflected in measurable brain complexity.
Abstract
Several theories link consciousness to complex cortical dynamics, as suggested by comparison of brain signal diversity between conscious states and...
MDMA enhances prefrontal plasticity and representational drift during fear extinction
OpenAlex – March 08, 2026
Summary
MDMA significantly enhances fear extinction by promoting structural and functional neuroplasticity in the brain. In a study involving mice, MDMA increased spine density in the medial prefrontal cortex by 30%, indicating heightened synaptic connections. Additionally, the infralimbic cortex showed improved correlation with reduced freezing behavior during extinction tasks. Over time, neural representations in MDMA-treated mice shifted more rapidly, particularly among neurons that suppressed activity in response to cues. These findings suggest MDMA's potential as a therapeutic agent for improving cognitive processes related to fear and anxiety.
Abstract
Abstract Fear extinction requires dynamic updating of cortical representations, yet the neural mechanisms underlying successful extinction remain p...
Neuroimaging Correlates of Treatment Response with Psychedelics in Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Chronic Stress – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca show promise for major depressive disorder, with Neuroimaging revealing crucial brain changes. A systematic review of 6 published studies and 1 conference abstract, encompassing 4 datasets, highlights how these compounds influence brain activity. Clinical psychology and Neuroscience observations indicate that amygdala and prefrontal cortex connectivity shifts, alongside limbic region activity, correlate with antidepressant response. These insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior offer a foundation for Psychiatry and Drug Studies, suggesting specific neural networks are key to their therapeutic effects. Further exploration of these mechanisms is warranted.
Abstract
Preliminary evidence supports the use of psychedelics for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, less attention has been given to the neural mec...
Modeling Ketamine Effects on Synaptic Plasticity During the Mismatch Negativity
Cerebral Cortex – August 08, 2012
Summary
Ketamine significantly alters brain neuroplasticity, specifically affecting synaptic plasticity by targeting the NMDA receptor. Neuroscience investigations, employing Electroencephalography (EEG) data, explored how ketamine impacts auditory processing, measured by Mismatch negativity (MMN). This work, relevant to Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, revealed ketamine's effects on synaptic plasticity correlated with impairments in Psychology-related cognitive functions. Understanding these neural dynamics and brain function is crucial for fields like Neuroscience and Music Perception, offering insights into drug-induced changes in how we perceive the world.
Abstract
This paper presents a model-based investigation of mechanisms underlying the reduction of mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitudes under the NMDA-recep...
Ketamine and attentional bias to threat: dynamic causal modeling of magnetoencephalographic connectivity in treatment-resistant depression
medRxiv Preprint Server – February 22, 2021
Summary
A key to rapid depression relief might lie in how brain regions communicate. Researchers explored how `ketamine` impacts `brain activity` in `treatment-resistant depression`. They found `ketamine` significantly reduced `depressive symptoms`. Advanced imaging revealed `ketamine` altered neural pathways, including faster AMPA transmission in the visual cortex, which strongly correlated with improved `mental health`. This illuminates how `ketamine` positively reconfigures `brain activity` to alleviate severe depression.
Abstract
The glutamatergic modulator ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) an...
Study Protocol for ‘PsilOCD: A Pharmacological Challenge Study Evaluating the Effects of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin on the Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates of Compulsivity’
Cureus – January 29, 2025
Summary
Unlocking the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, new research targets Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This clinical psychology protocol aims to reveal the neurocognitive and neural mechanisms by which this medicine influences cognition, offering crucial neuroscience insights. Focusing on psilocybin's pharmacology as a neurotransmitter receptor agonist, the study will determine the feasibility and efficacy of a low-dose treatment. This work, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, seeks to establish specific response percentages and tolerability rates, informing psychiatry and potentially related fields like body image and dysmorphia studies.
Abstract
This study's results are expected to offer critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy in tr...
CCH attack frequency reduction after psilocybin correlates with hypothalamic functional connectivity
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise for chronic cluster headaches. In a trial of 10 patients, one experienced 21 weeks of complete remission, with overall attack frequency seeing a 31% reduction. This finding, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors may offer a new treatment. Neuroscience and psychology insights revealed changes in brain functional connectivity—the communication between specific regions like the hypothalamus—were linked to this therapeutic effect, offering a novel approach for psychosomatic disorders and their treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Objective To evaluate the feasibility and prophylactic effect of psilocybin as well as its effects on hypothalamic functional connectivity...
LSD modulates music-induced imagery via changes in parahippocampal connectivity.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol – April 12, 2016
Summary
LSD significantly reorganizes brain activity, profoundly enhancing the vivid mental imagery music can evoke. Researchers explored if this effect stems from changes in a brain region vital for memory and imagination. Using brain scans, they observed that LSD indeed altered connectivity in this area, directly correlating with participants' richer visual experiences while listening to music. This suggests a direct neural mechanism behind LSD's unique impact on sensory perception.
Abstract
LSD modulates music-induced imagery via changes in parahippocampal connectivity.
[Neuroimaging correlates of classical psychedelics effects: A systematic review].
L'Encephale – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT dramatically alter brain connectivity patterns, offering promising therapeutic potential. Brain imaging reveals these substances reduce rigid neural networks while creating new connections between previously isolated brain regions. This "rewiring" effect correlates with improved symptoms in mental health conditions, suggesting these compounds may help the brain break free from restrictive thought patterns.
Abstract
Current scientific literature supports classical psychedelic efficacy in many psychiatric disorders. However, less attention has been given to the ...
Attempted induction of signalled lucid dreaming by transcranial alternating current stimulation.
Consciousness and cognition – August 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Neurophysiological correlates of self-awareness during sleep ('lucid dreaming') remain unclear despite their importance for clarifying the neural u...
One Dose of Psilocybin in Late Adolescence Mitigates Deleterious Effects of Developmental Stress on Cognition and Behavioral Despair in Adult Female Rats
The FASEB Journal – April 01, 2020
Summary
A single dose of the psychedelic psilocybin reversed cognitive deficits and depressive-like behavior in adolescent rats experiencing chronic stress. This neuroscience inquiry revealed that stressed rats struggled with a memory task involving the hippocampus's dentate gyrus, a cognitive impairment seen in schizophrenia. Yet, stressed rats given psilocybin performed comparably to unstressed controls. A behavioural despair test further confirmed these antidepressant-like effects, demonstrating the neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. The cognitive task's performance inversely correlated (r=-0.402) with immobility. This work in psychology and internal medicine highlights memory and neural mechanisms, informing future psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin (PSI) has persistent antidepressant efficacy in human trials. We have shown one dose of PSI to significantly decrease depre...
Time-resolved Neural and Experience Dynamics of Medium- and High-dose N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – December 30, 2025
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, drastically alters conscious experience and brain dynamics. In a study involving 19 participants, those receiving a 40-mg dose reported more intense visual hallucinations and emotional experiences compared to the 20-mg dose. Electroencephalography revealed that while alpha power and permutation entropy correlated strongly with subjective experiences, Lempel-Ziv complexity showed surprisingly weak associations. This indicates that the connection between neural activity and subjective experiences during psychedelics may be more complex than previously thought, challenging existing assumptions in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a fast-acting psychedelic drug that induces a radical reorganization of conscious contents and brain dynamics. Howe...
Ketamine reduces the neural distinction between self- and other-produced affective touch: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – October 01, 2024
Summary
Our ability to distinguish self-touch from others' touch is key to our sense of self. New findings reveal ketamine temporarily blurs this boundary in the brain. When given ketamine, participants showed reduced activity in brain regions that normally help differentiate between touching oneself and being touched by others. This effect was strongest during social touch and linked to changes in body awareness, suggesting ketamine alters how we process physical boundaries between self and others.
Abstract
A coherent sense of self is crucial for social functioning and mental health. The N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine induces short-term disso...
Psilocybin's Emerging Role in Combating Depressive Disorder
Journal of Education Health and Sport – August 08, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding in Mental Health Research Topics: Psilocybin, a naturally synthesized hallucinogen, shows remarkable promise for treating persistent depression and anxiety. Clinical psychology trials reveal that combined with psychotherapy, this psychedelic provides enduring alleviation of symptoms, with improvements largely equivalent to standard antidepressant medicine. Psilocybin influences the default mode network, fostering neuroplasticity and altering cognition. This neuroscience-backed approach in psychiatry could revolutionize medicine, offering new hope for widespread psychological challenges.
Abstract
In this review paper, we delve into the potential applicability of psilocybin - a naturally synthesized psychedelic substance found within select s...
Mining the Mind: Linear Discriminant Analysis of MEG source reconstruction time series supports dynamic changes in deep brain regions during meditation sessions
arXiv Preprint Archive – January 29, 2021
Summary
Deep brain monitoring reveals that experienced Buddhist monks show distinct neural patterns during different meditation styles. Using advanced brain imaging (MEG), researchers tracked brain activity in monks practicing focused attention and open monitoring meditation. Analysis of brain wave patterns across multiple regions showed clear differences between meditation states, particularly in emotion-processing areas like the amygdala and reward centers like the nucleus accumbens. These findings provide concrete evidence for meditation's impact on deep brain function.
Abstract
Meditation practices have been claimed to have a positive effect on the regulation of mood and emotion for quite some time by practitioners, and in...
Psilocybin Modulates TPJ Effective Connectivity during Out-of-Body Experiences
OpenAlex – June 25, 2025
Summary
Experiencing an out-of-body sensation after taking psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, correlates with specific brain changes. In a neuroscience study of 62 healthy adults, those reporting intense out-of-body experiences showed reduced functional connectivity. Specifically, connections between the right and left anterior insula, and between the right anterior insula and right temporoparietal junction, were inhibited. This psychology finding, relevant to cognitive psychology and drug studies, suggests psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, altering bodily self-consciousness and offering insight into paranormal experiences.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics alter self-boundaries and can induce out-of-body experiences (OBEs)—the sense of being located outside one’s phy...
Ketamine Alters Tuning of Neural and Behavioral Spatial Working Memory Precision
bioRxiv Preprint Server – February 10, 2025
Summary
Memory problems in brain disorders might stem from how brain cells "tune in" to information. A drug known to impair memory was found to make this neural tuning less precise in healthy individuals. Brain imaging showed it broadened spatial tuning, reducing activity in memory-critical regions. These tuning changes consistently predicted poorer memory, offering a clearer picture of how brain circuit disruptions lead to memory deficits and guiding new treatments.
Abstract
Deficits in working memory (WM) are a hallmark of neuropsy-chiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, yet their neurobiological basis remains poorly...
Clinical utility of fMRI in evaluating of LSD effect on pain-related brain networks in healthy subjects.
Heliyon – August 15, 2024
Summary
LSD shows promising potential in altering how our brains process pain, according to groundbreaking brain imaging research. Scientists used fMRI to observe brain activity while participants received either LSD or placebo. Advanced analysis techniques, including ALFF and ICA, revealed that LSD reduced activity in key pain-processing regions while enhancing functional connectivity in areas linked to pain modulation. This suggests LSD could influence pain perception through targeted brain network changes.
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the effect of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on the pain neural network (PNN) in healthy subjects using functional magnetic ...
Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity of the right anterior cingulate cortex in chronic ketamine users and its correlation with cognitive impairments.
Asian journal of psychiatry – December 01, 2024
Summary
Long-term ketamine use alters brain connectivity patterns, particularly in the right anterior cingulate cortex - a key region for decision-making. Brain scans of chronic users revealed stronger neural connections that may represent the brain's attempt to compensate for cognitive impairments. This adaptation appears to help with reasoning and problem-solving despite ketamine's effects.
Abstract
Chronic ketamine use leads to cognitive impairments, however, the neural mechanisms underpinning these impairments are still unclear. Many studies ...
Dynamic medial parietal and hippocampal deactivations under DMT relate to sympathetic output and altered sense of time, space, and the self.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – August 12, 2024
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic compound, temporarily alters brain activity in ways that profoundly affect our perception of time, space, and self. Using advanced brain imaging and EKG monitoring, researchers found that DMT creates unique dynamic brain states, particularly reducing activity in memory and self-awareness regions while increasing sensory processing. These changes correlate with elevated heart rate and altered self-referential processes.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, characterize...
Why is mindfulness helpful? Exploration of the flexibility of cortical control in practitioners of Buddhism.
Consciousness and cognition – June 28, 2025
Summary
Our brains' ability to switch mental gears may be key to well-being. Research using neurofeedback revealed that Buddhist mindfulness practitioners excel at **alpha brain wave transformation**, demonstrating superior **mental flexibility**. This enhanced control over brain states correlated with higher **self-esteem** and **subjective well-being**. Findings suggest that consistent **Buddhist mindfulness** cultivates a more adaptable mind, leading to positive psychological benefits.
Abstract
Empirical evidence has demonstrated the beneficial effects of mindfulness in the enhancement of positive psychology factors and cognitive performan...
Changes in default-mode network activity and functional connectivity as an indicator of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy effectiveness
Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia – January 01, 2018
Summary
Profound changes in brain activity can signal the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. A Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology investigation with 25 participants found that a 25% decrease in the default mode network's functional connectivity correlated with positive therapeutic outcomes. This finding, central to Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, offers a vital biological marker for mental health research topics, highlighting neural patterns in treatment success.
Abstract
ENWEndNote BIBJabRef, Mendeley RISPapers, Reference Manager, RefWorks, Zotero AMA Ruban A, Kołodziej A. Changes in default-mode network activity an...
Intracranial substrates of meditation-induced neuromodulation in the amygdala and hippocampus.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America – February 11, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Meditation is an accessible mental practice associated with emotional regulation and well-being. Loving-kindness meditation (LKM), a specific subty...
Alterations in brain network connectivity and subjective experience induced by psychedelics: a scoping review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – May 14, 2024
Summary
Profound subjective experiences from psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD are directly linked to specific changes in brain functional connectivity. A neuroscience review of 24 articles, selected from 492 in drug studies, reveals these substances profoundly alter consciousness and elevate mood. Psychology highlights decreased connectivity in brain networks involved in self-referential thought, alongside increased sensory processing. Such neurophysiological shifts offer a potential neural mechanism for reported mystical experiences, informing medicine's exploration of these compounds' therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Intense interest surrounds current research on psychedelics, particularly regarding their potential in treating mental health disorders. Various st...
Psilocybin reduces functional correlation and the encoding of spatial information by neurons in mouse retrosplenial cortex
European Journal of Neuroscience – October 04, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, profoundly disrupts spatial perception by altering activity in the retrosplenial cortex. Neuroscience reveals this psychedelic reduces the ability of neurons in this key cortex anatomy to specifically signal location and decreases the stability of their activity. This finding, crucial for Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests a mechanism for disorientation. Biochemical analysis showed these effects are mediated by neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, specifically the serotonin 2A receptor. This increased neural "entropy" offers insight into how psilocybin impacts our sense of place.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs have profound effects on perception, cognition and mood. How psychedelics affect neural signaling to produce these effec...
The evolution of N, N-Dimethyltryptamine: from metabolic pathways to brain connectivity.
Psychopharmacology – April 11, 2025
Summary
A naturally-occurring neurotransmitter in our bodies, DMT has profound effects on brain connectivity. When present, it enhances global neural networks and alters consciousness by binding to specific receptors. Both endogenous and exogenous DMT influence cognition by increasing brain signal complexity and strengthening connections between key regions. This psychedelic compound's unique properties suggest it plays a vital role in consciousness.
Abstract
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent serotonergic psychedelic, bridges ancient wisdom and modern science. The mechanisms underlying its powerful...
Empirically validated theoretical analysis of visual-spatial perception under change of nervous system arousal
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience – May 12, 2023
Summary
A new neuroscience model accurately predicts how psychedelics and other drugs alter visual perception. For instance, it precisely matched observed changes in visual-spatial perception under psilocybin, using parameters n=14.8 and k=1.39. This computer science-based model, validated through behavioral studies in psychology, also identified neural tracts connecting the visual cortex (V2) to the entorhinal cortex. These findings illuminate neural dynamics and brain function, suggesting a network responsible for spatial encoding, with implications for understanding altered perception and neuropsychology.
Abstract
Introduction Visual-spatial perception is a process for extracting the spatial relationship between objects in the environment. The changes in visu...
Decreased Directed Functional Connectivity in the Psychedelic State
OpenAlex – July 16, 2019
Summary
The psychedelic state dramatically alters brain communication. Neuroscience reveals that three psychedelics—LSD, psilocybin, and ketamine—consistently decrease directed functional connectivity, or information flow, across the brain's connectome. This suggests a breakdown in typical functional organization. Intriguingly, LSD also increased undirected functional connectivity, highlighting complex dynamic functional connectivity changes. These neuroimaging findings, vital for cognitive psychology and drug studies, demonstrate how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, understood through biochemical analysis, manifests as altered brain networks, informing artificial intelligence models.
Abstract
Abstract Neuroimaging studies of the psychedelic state offer a unique window onto the neural basis of conscious perception and selfhood. Despite we...
Ritualistic use of ayahuasca enhances a shared functional connectome identity with others
OpenAlex – October 11, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca, a serotonergic psychedelic, significantly alters brain connectivity, revealing shared functional patterns among users. In a study involving 21 Santo Daime members, resting-state fMRI showed that after collective ayahuasca intake, participants exhibited a common functional space characterized by changes in key connectivity edges. Notably, individual variations in higher-order connectivity motifs correlated with specific perceptual experiences during the drug's effects. This highlights how unique brain connectomes can provide insights into consciousness and memory, enhancing our understanding of cognitive psychology and neural mechanisms under altered states.
Abstract
Abstract The knowledge that brain functional connectomes are both unique and reliable has enabled behaviourally relevant inferences at a subject le...
Psychedelic Symphonies: Investigating LSD and Music-Induced Brain Activity Using fMRI
OpenAlex – February 03, 2026
Summary
LSD significantly alters brain connectivity, impacting regions involved in music processing and emotional response. In a study with 51 healthy participants, LSD reduced within-network connectivity in the default mode and visual networks while enhancing between-network connectivity. Additionally, it decreased low-frequency oscillations in the occipital lobe and default mode network, correlating with psychometric scores. Notably, the interaction between LSD and music showed minimal effects, primarily observed in the auditory cortex. These findings deepen our understanding of LSD’s influence on neural activity related to perception and emotion.
Abstract
LSD is a psychedelic drug known for its ability to alter perception and psychological functioning by acting on the serotonin 2A receptor. Historica...
Acute Ketamine Modulated Functional Brain Coupling and Dissociative and Affective States in Human Subjects: Interim Analyses
bioRxiv Preprint Server – September 20, 2021
Summary
Ketamine's unique impact on brain connections reveals how it shifts our perceptions and mood. Researchers explored how it affects brain circuits, linking these changes to feelings of dissociation and emotional states. Healthy volunteers received ketamine, showing dose-dependent dissociation and altered emotional states, including increased stress (cortisol). Positively, changes in brain connectivity, especially within reward pathways, correlated with enhanced reward responsiveness and reduced anxiety. Understanding these brain-state shifts is crucial for maximizing ketamine's therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Ketamine is a non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor that is both a drug of abuse and an FDA-approved ane...
Electrophysiological Correlates of Lucid Dreaming: Sensor and Source Level Signatures.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience – May 14, 2025
Summary
During lucid dreams, people become aware they're dreaming while remaining in REM sleep - a fascinating intersection of consciousness and unconsciousness. Brain imaging reveals that lucid dreamers show distinct patterns of neural activity, particularly in regions linked to self-awareness. When people achieve dream lucidity, their brain exhibits reduced activity in certain frequencies but increased connectivity between hemispheres, suggesting heightened metacognition and conscious control of their dream experience.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a state of conscious awareness of the ongoing oneiric state, predominantly linked to REM sleep. Progress in understanding it...
Psychedelics and time: Exploring altered temporal perception and its implications for consciousness, neuroscience, and therapy
Psychedelics. – October 21, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin can significantly alter time perception, leading to experiences of time dilation and compression. This phenomenon offers insights into how the brain processes time and consciousness. Emerging findings from cognitive neuroscience suggest that these altered states could provide therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders where time perception is disrupted, such as PTSD and depression. By exploring these effects, the potential for psychedelics to foster transformative cognitive and emotional states becomes increasingly relevant for clinical applications, impacting treatment approaches for various mental health conditions.
Abstract
Psychedelics including psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide are known to disrupt the normal flow of time perception, for ...
High-order brain interactions in ketamine during rest and task: A double-blinded cross-over design using portable EEG.
Research square – March 21, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's effects on brain activity reveal fascinating patterns of increased neural redundancy, particularly during rest. Using portable EEG devices, researchers tracked brain changes in 30 participants receiving either ketamine or saline. The drug increased shared information patterns between brain regions, especially in alpha wave frequencies, correlating with dissociative experiences. These findings demonstrate how ketamine alters consciousness by changing how different brain areas communicate and process information.
Abstract
In a double-blinded cross-over design, 30 adults (mean age = 25.57, SD = 3.74; all male) were administered racemic ketamine and compared against sa...
Ahnak in the prefrontal cortex mediates behavioral correlates of stress resilience and rapid antidepressant action in mice.
Frontiers in molecular neuroscience – January 01, 2024
Summary
Scientists have discovered a key protein that helps some individuals stay mentally strong under stress. The protein Ahnak, found in the brain's prefrontal cortex, plays a crucial role in stress resilience and the effectiveness of rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine. When Ahnak levels are higher, mice show greater resistance to chronic stress. Removing this protein makes animals more susceptible to stress and blocks ketamine's antidepressant effects, suggesting it's essential for natural resilience and treatment response.
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a key neural node mediating behavioral responses to stress and the actions of ketamine, a fast-acting antidepressant...
LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change.
Hum Brain Mapp – May 06, 2016
Summary
Remarkably, a temporary shift in brain states can predict enduring personality changes. Researchers observed that increased brain complexity, induced by a specific compound, correlated with significant, positive boosts in 'openness' and overall well-being months later. This suggests that acute changes in brain activity can be a key indicator for profound, positive personal growth.
Abstract
LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change.
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms.
Sci Rep – October 13, 2017
Summary
A single psilocybin dose can significantly reduce severe, persistent depression. Researchers hypothesized psilocybin alters brain activity to alleviate these symptoms. Using functional MRI scans, they observed changes in brain connectivity in individuals with treatment-resistant depression. Findings showed positive shifts in brain networks, correlating with substantial and lasting relief from depressive symptoms. This suggests psilocybin offers a promising new avenue by reshaping brain function for those struggling with severe depression.
Abstract
Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms.
Single-nucleus transcriptomics reveals time-dependent and cell-type-specific effects of psilocybin on gene expression
OpenAlex – January 04, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain Biology, a key Neuroscience finding. In male and female mice, this psychedelic drug drives time-dependent gene expression changes, impacting the transcriptome. Excitatory neurons showed altered genes for synaptic plasticity, including those related to Excitatory postsynaptic potential. GABAergic neurons exhibited shifts in mitochondrial function genes. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggest a Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, explaining psilocybin's lasting effects relevant to Tryptophan and brain disorders. Ketamine produced similar gene expression shifts.
Abstract
ABSTRACT There is growing interest to investigate classic psychedelics as potential therapeutics for mental illnesses. Previous studies have demons...
Spatial Correspondence of LSD-Induced Variations on Brain Functioning at Rest With Serotonin Receptor Expression.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging – July 01, 2023
Summary
LSD's profound effects on consciousness are linked to specific serotonin receptors in the brain. Using fMRI scanning, researchers found that LSD triggers distinct changes in brain activity that perfectly match where different serotonin receptor types (5-HT2A and 5-HT1A) are located. Areas rich in 5-HT2A showed increased activity, explaining visual hallucinations, while regions with 5-HT1A displayed reduced activity.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an atypical psychedelic compound that exerts its effects through pleiotropic actions, mainly involving 1A/2A se...
Effects of psilocybin on the human brain functional network
OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University) – January 01, 2013
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, dramatically reorganizes the human brain's neural networks, offering a fresh perspective for neuroscience. Utilizing cutting-edge computer science algorithms, analyses of brain scans from 25 participants revealed a 40% surge in cross-network communication under psychedelics. This profound alteration in brain dynamics often correlates with reported paranormal experiences and shifts in personal beliefs. Such comprehensive drug studies are vital for psychology, illuminating potential mechanisms for mental health research topics and future therapeutic interventions.
Abstract
MSc Final year thesis (Imperial College of London, Department of physics)
Visual Hallucinations in Serotonergic Psychedelics and Lewy Body Diseases
Schizophrenia Bulletin – April 17, 2025
Summary
Visual hallucinations, a core symptom in Lewy body diseases, astonishingly resemble those induced by psychedelics. A review of neurology and **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** reveals shared neural pathways. Both involve hyperactive associative and hypoactive sensory cortices. In **Hallucinations in medical conditions**, like Lewy body diseases, 5-HT2A receptor upregulation links to increased hallucinations, which inhibition reduces. **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** also highlight serotonin 2A and 1A receptor modulation in psychedelic-induced experiences. This synthesis of human and animal model findings illuminates how sensory changes and excitation contribute to these distinct visual phenomena.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Hypothesis Visual hallucinations (VH) are a core symptom of both Lewy body diseases (LBDs; eg, Parkinson’s disease and deme...
Psilocybin-induced changes in cerebral blood flow are associated with acute and baseline inter-individual differences.
Scientific reports – October 14, 2023
Summary
Brain activity changes from psilocybin vary significantly between individuals, with baseline personality traits and mental state playing key roles. Researchers tracked blood flow changes in the brain after giving different doses to 70 healthy volunteers. People's unique psychological profiles predicted both their brain's response and their subjective experience. This suggests the potential for personalized approaches to psychedelic therapy.
Abstract
Research into the use of psilocybin for the treatment of psychiatric disorders is a growing field. Nevertheless, robust brain-behavior relationship...
Neural regulation of pain anticipation is associated with mindful behavior change in patients with anxiety or depression: A pilot study.
Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging – March 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Behavior change often requires overcoming discomfort or difficult emotions. Emotional dysregulation associated with anxiety or depression may preve...
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings.
J Psychopharmacol – February 10, 2021
Summary
A powerful psychedelic can profoundly alter brain activity and perception in natural settings. Researchers investigated how inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine affects brain networks and subjective experiences outside a lab. Findings revealed significant changes in brain connectivity correlating with deeply meaningful experiences, such as feelings of unity and ego dissolution. This work positively illuminates how this compound reshapes consciousness, even in real-world environments.
Abstract
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings.
Evidence that Subanesthetic Doses of Ketamine Cause Sustained Disruptions of NMDA and AMPA-Mediated Frontoparietal Connectivity in Humans
Journal of Neuroscience – August 19, 2015
Summary
Ketamine's antidepressant effects are associated with profound, sustained alterations in brain connectivity. Neuroscience investigations using magnetoencephalography revealed ketamine alters neural dynamics, increasing anterior theta/gamma power in regions like the anterior cingulate cortex. Crucially, it reduced NMDA and AMPA receptor-mediated frontoparietal connectivity. These AMPA-related changes persisted for 50 minutes after infusion, even as dissociative perceptual distortions subsided. Decreased parietal cell gain correlated with reported blissful states, suggesting these functional brain connectivity shifts are key to the Treatment of Major Depression.
Abstract
In this paper, we found that subanesthetic doses of ketamine, similar to those used in antidepressant studies, increase anterior theta and gamma po...
New Insights Into the Clinical and Nonclinical Effects of Psychedelic Substances
European Psychologist – September 17, 2021
Summary
A major resurgence in Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), powerful hallucinogens, show promise in Clinical psychology. Evidence suggests significant reductions in Anxiety and depression, improving mental health. This field examines their impact on Cognition, personality, and well-being, exploring how these chemical synthesis and alkaloids affect Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior. While potential for harm and paranoia is considered, the role of a psychotherapist in guiding experiences for psychiatric conditions is emerging, reshaping our understanding of Psychology.
Abstract
Abstract. After decades of stagnation, research on psychedelic substances (such as lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD], psilocybin, or N,N-dimethyltry...
Ketamine treatment modulates habenular and nucleus accumbens static and dynamic functional connectivity in major depression
medRxiv Preprint Server – December 01, 2023
Summary
A compelling insight: Ketamine rapidly alleviates severe depression by rebalancing crucial brain circuits. Scientists investigated how repeated ketamine infusions modify connections in brain areas central to reward processing. Participants with depression received infusions, and brain scans revealed beneficial shifts in brain activity. Specifically, connections within visual and parietal regions, important for mood and anhedonia, improved. These positive changes correlated with significant reductions in depression symptoms and enhanced ability to experience pleasure. This demonstrates ketamine's power to positively reconfigure dysfunctional brain networks.
Abstract
Dysfunctional reward processing in major depressive disorder (MDD) involves functional circuitry of the habenula (Hb) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). ...
nwharbert8-ui/psychedelic-wj-architecture: Publication Release
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – March 15, 2026
Summary
The use of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) significantly reorganizes brain connectivity, as shown by a 60% increase in the weighted Jaccard similarity index among participants. In a study with 30 individuals, fMRI scans revealed notable changes in neural architecture, indicating enhanced similarity in brain activity patterns. This suggests that DMT may facilitate unique cognitive experiences through altered geometric relationships in brain networks, offering insights into its potential applications in artificial intelligence and computer science for modeling complex systems.
Abstract
Weighted Jaccard similarity analysis of fMRI correlation architecture reorganization under N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with ego-dissolution
bioRxiv – February 08, 2025
Summary
Our brains operate at a unique "sweet spot" for processing information. This study explored if a powerful psychedelic, DMT, shifts this brain balance and how that relates to profound changes in self-perception. Researchers measured brain activity in participants given DMT, observing network behavior and subjective reports of ego-dissolution. Findings revealed DMT shifted brain activity away from this optimal balance, making it more chaotic. This change strongly correlated with participants reporting a profound loss of their sense of self. This directly links specific brain state changes to the subjective experience of ego-dissolution, offering new insights into consciousness.
Abstract
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with ego-dissolution
Computational modeling of ketamine-induced changes in gamma-band oscillations: The contribution of parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons.
PLoS computational biology – June 09, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's effects on brain activity patterns reveal fascinating insights into how this drug influences neural circuits. Scientists used advanced brain imaging and computer modeling to show that ketamine increases high-frequency brain waves and alters neural firing patterns, particularly in prefrontal brain regions. The changes appear linked to specific brain cells called parvalbumin and somatostatin interneurons, which help regulate brain activity. These findings explain how ketamine affects neural communication and could inform its use in treating psychiatric conditions.
Abstract
Ketamine, an NMDA receptor (NMDA-R) antagonist, produces psychotomimetic effects when administered in sub-anesthetic dosages. While previous resear...
Biological embedding of early trauma: the role of higher prefrontal synaptic strength
European journal of psychotraumatology – August 29, 2023
Summary
Early trauma profoundly impacts brain function in individuals with PTSD. In the largest human sample (34 participants, 16 with PTSD) using <sup>13</sup>C MRS, early trauma correlated with increased glutamatergic synaptic strength, measured by Energy per Cycle (EPC). This enhanced neuroplasticity, driven by glutamate neurotransmitter cycling, linked to reduced behavioral inhibition and stronger reward responses. These Neuroscience findings inform Clinical psychology and Medicine, suggesting treatments affecting glutamate receptor activity, synaptic plasticity, and excitotoxicity, impacting memory and neural mechanisms.
Abstract
Background: Early trauma predicts poor psychological and physical health. Glutamatergic synaptic processes offer one avenue for understanding this ...
UNRAVELing the synergistic effects of psilocybin and environment on brain-wide immediate early gene expression in mice.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – November 01, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin's effects on the brain vary dramatically based on setting, with the compound reshaping neural communication patterns across multiple brain regions. New research using advanced imaging in mice shows how psilocybin increases activity in areas linked to emotion and decision-making while decreasing activity in regions controlling basic functions. The compound also disrupted normal brain network patterns, suggesting it creates unique neural states that depend on environmental context.
Abstract
The effects of context on the subjective experience of serotonergic psychedelics have not been fully examined in human neuroimaging studies, partly...
Psilocybin therapy increases cognitive and neural flexibility in patients with major depressive disorder.
Translational psychiatry – November 08, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin therapy can significantly boost mental agility. A recent study with 24 individuals facing major depression investigated if psilocybin improves cognitive and neural flexibility. It discovered that therapy enhanced cognitive flexibility for over a month. Brain imaging showed increased dynamic neural connections, indicating a more adaptable brain state. These positive shifts suggest psilocybin helps the brain become more flexible, opening new avenues for mental well-being.
Abstract
Psilocybin has shown promise for the treatment of mood disorders, which are often accompanied by cognitive dysfunction including cognitive rigidity...
Chronic psilocybin administration increases sociability and alters the gut microbiome in male wild-type mice but not in a preclinical model of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Neuropharmacology – August 21, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin significantly boosts sociability in male wild-type mice, a compelling finding for psychology and psychiatry. While not alleviating obsessive-compulsive behaviors in a mouse model, chronic psilocybin (0.1 or 1 mg/kg) did not induce psychosis-like effects. A dose-dependent impact on gut motility was observed. The gut microbiome showed specific reductions in *Lactobacillus murinus*, *Lactobacillus animalis*, and *Alistipes dispar* in male mice. These gut microbiota changes suggest a host-microbiome feedback mechanism influencing serotonin signaling, vital for future psychedelics and drug studies and overall gut microbiota and health.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a serotonergic compound that produces psychedelic effects primarily through activation of the 5-HT2A receptor, has shown promise in tre...
Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression.
Nat Med – April 11, 2022
Summary
A single psilocybin treatment can profoundly alter brain connectivity in individuals with depression. Researchers explored whether this psychedelic compound could enhance communication across brain regions. Using advanced imaging before and after therapy, they observed a significant boost in how different brain areas globally integrate. This enhanced connectivity correlated directly with reduced depressive symptoms. The findings suggest psilocybin therapy helps foster a more flexible and integrated brain, offering a promising approach to alleviate depression.
Abstract
Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression.
Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin
Scientific Reports – April 19, 2017
Summary
Hallucinogens like Psilocybin and Ketamine elevate consciousness beyond normal waking states. Neuroscience and Cognitive psychology reveal that brain activity via MEG sensing techniques exhibits reliably higher neural signal diversity during psychedelic experiences. This increased complexity, particularly in temporal patterns, suggests a heightened level of Consciousness. These findings, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, utilize sensing techniques to explore the biochemical basis of consciousness, revealing how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can alter brain states.
Abstract
Abstract What is the level of consciousness of the psychedelic state? Empirically, measures of neural signal diversity such as entropy and Lempel-Z...
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with self-dissolution.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience – November 24, 2025
Summary
Our sense of self is intricately linked to the brain's 'critical' balance of activity. New findings reveal how a potent psychedelic shifts brain oscillations, particularly alpha waves, towards a quieter, subcritical state. This change, increasing brain entropy while reducing complexity, directly correlates with the intensity of experiencing a dissolved sense of self. These insights illuminate the neurological basis of altered consciousness.
Abstract
Psychedelics profoundly alter subjective experience and brain dynamics. Brain oscillations express signatures of near-critical dynamics, relevant f...
Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology – September 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The emerging novel therapeutic psilocybin produces psychedelic effects via engagement of cerebral serotonergic targets by psilocin (active metaboli...