4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Heaven and Hell—A Phenomenological Study of Recreational Use of 4-HO-MET in Sweden
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – July 01, 2011
Summary
Users of the psychedelic 4-HO-MET describe profound shifts between "heaven" and "hell," yet remain satisfied and curious for more. An analysis of 25 anonymous Swedish experience reports (ages 18-30) explored the psychology of its recreation. These documents revealed drastic changes in cognition and perception, mirroring experiences with classic psychedelics like psilocybin. Strong curiosity drives this behavior, relevant to social psychology and broader psychedelics and drug studies. Understanding the substance's impact on neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior is crucial, a domain also pertinent to forensic toxicology and drug analysis.
Abstract
The psychoactive substance 4-HO-MET (4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine) with psychedelic qualities is one of many legal so-called Internet drugs...
Electrophysiological effects of psilocybin co-administered with midazolam
OpenAlex – July 29, 2025
Summary
Imagine experiencing a profound psychedelic journey without memory of it. A pilot study in **psychedelics and drug studies** gave participants 25 mg of psilocybin—an **alkaloid** from **chemical synthesis**—with a sedative. This allowed the full psychedelic experience, blunting recall. Brain activity showed distinct patterns: initially, increased beta power; then, as psilocybin's **neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior** grew over six hours, increased brain complexity and altered power. Psilocybin's effects persist despite memory suppression, supporting mechanistic studies.
Abstract
Abstract The serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin induces neural plasticity and profoundly alters consciousness. The benzodiazepine midazolam blunts...
Fully automated head-twitch detection system for the study of 5-HT2A receptor pharmacology in vivo
Scientific Reports – October 03, 2019
Summary
An antipsychotic drug in development effectively blocks the head-twitch behavior (HTR) characteristic of psychedelics. This Neuroscience insight for Psychedelics and Drug Studies emerged from a new fully automated system for detecting HTR, enhancing Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques. It revealed that an Agonist targeting the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (a type of Metabotropic receptor) significantly reduced HTR. Conversely, blocking this Metabotropic glutamate receptor potentiated psychedelic effects. This Pharmacology, aided by Computer science, advances understanding of Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior via the 5-HT2A Receptor.
Abstract
Abstract Head-twitch behavior (HTR) is the behavioral signature of psychedelic drugs upon stimulation of the serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R)...
Entheogens: True or False?
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies – January 01, 2003
Summary
Genuine mystical experiences, long debated in Religious Studies and explored in Art and Literature, *can* be genuinely induced by psychedelics. Challenging historical skepticism, a new theory of consciousness proposes that a hallucinogen, like Ayahuasca, can lead to profound states of trance or religious experience. This perspective from Psychology and Philosophy, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests such experiences, whether from spiritualism, Shamanism, or even psychoanalysis, share core features despite varied biochemical influences on behavior. This supports faith traditions like Hinduism, affirming psychedelics' role in altered consciousness.
Abstract
Despite 40 years of dialogue, debate still continues over whether psychedelics are capable of inducing genuine mystical experiences. This paper fir...
Development and validation of an analytical method for the determination of select 4-position ring-substituted tryptamines in plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Journal of Analytical Toxicology – May 26, 2025
Summary
Concentrations of the psychedelic **tryptamine** **psilocin** reached 32.7 ng/mL in male rat plasma after administering its prodrug. A sensitive **liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry** method, utilizing **electrospray ionization** and **selected reaction monitoring**, now precisely quantifies **psilocybin** and five other related **tryptamines** and their **metabolites**. This advanced **chemistry** technique, vital for **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** and **Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis**, demonstrated linearity from 0.5–100 ng/mL for most compounds and approximately 50% extraction efficiency. It offers robust detection of these **alkaloids**.
Abstract
Abstract 4-Phosporyloxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) is a psychedelic tryptamine found in certain mushroom species that has shown efficacy ...
The Antidepressant Effects of Vaporized N,N-Dimethyltryptamine: An Open-Label Pilot Trial in Treatment-Resistant Depression.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – March 01, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking trial found that vaporized DMT, a natural psychedelic compound, rapidly improved symptoms in people with treatment-resistant depression. Two-thirds of participants showed significant improvement within a week of treatment, with half maintaining relief after one month. The fast-acting, non-invasive nature of DMT therapy could offer new hope for those who haven't responded to conventional treatments.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a naturally occurring psychedelic tryptamine contained in the indigenous ayahuasca brew, has shown antidepressant eff...
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy May Enhance Conservation Values in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder
Psychedelic Medicine – November 25, 2024
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, significantly altered values in 48 patients with alcohol use disorder receiving psychotherapy. Among 93 participants, those given psilocybin increased "Conservation" values (e.g., security, tradition). Acute psychedelic experiences correlated with these shifts (r=0.31–0.34). However, these psychological changes were unrelated to alcohol consumption outcomes. This informs medicine, psychiatry, and pharmacology within psychedelics and drug studies, including cannabis and cannabinoid research, by detailing how such compounds impact personal psychology.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin can produce long-term changes in personality, personal values, and behavior. Although psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) is b...
Network control energy reductions under DMT relate to serotonin receptors, signal diversity, and subjective experience.
Communications biology – April 18, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic compound DMT reduces the energy needed for the brain to shift between different states, revealing fascinating links between brain chemistry and consciousness. Researchers tracked brain activity in 14 people during brief but intense DMT experiences. The findings showed that DMT lowered the brain's "control energy" - the effort required to change neural patterns. These energy changes matched both participants' reported intensity of experience and measured increases in brain signal complexity. Notably, the effects were strongest in brain regions rich in serotonin receptors, suggesting a direct link between the drug's chemical action and its impact on consciousness.
Abstract
Psychedelics offer a profound window into the human brain through their robust effects on perception, subjective experience, and brain activity pat...
Psilocin alleviates acute itch in mice: possible involvement of 5-HT2A receptors and kynurenine pathway.
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology – April 15, 2025
Summary
Psilocin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, shows promise in treating severe itching. In groundbreaking research with mice, this compound significantly reduced scratching behavior by interacting with specific brain receptors and the kynurenine pathway. The treatment was most effective when combined with another compound, suggesting a potential new approach for treating chronic itch conditions.
Abstract
We aimed to investigate whether psilocin, the bioactive metabolite of the well-known psychedelic, psilocybin, may have antipruritic effects in mice...
An encounter with death: a comparative thematic and content analysis of naturalistic DMT experiences and the near-death experience.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
The psychedelic compound DMT creates experiences remarkably similar to near-death experiences (NDEs), with 95% of users reporting classic NDE elements like bright lights, out-of-body sensations, and encounters with beings of light. Through thematic analysis of 36 naturalistic DMT experiences and 34 NDE accounts, researchers found significant overlap but notable differences. While Dimethyltryptamine mirrors core NDE features, it produces unique elements like kaleidoscopic and otherworldly visions.
Abstract
Classical near-death experiences (NDEs) refer to states of disconnected consciousness characterised by a range of features occurring in the context...
Sex Differences in Religious Beliefs Before and After an Entity Encounter During an Ayahuasca Experience.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – February 13, 2025
Summary
Men and women show fascinating differences in how ayahuasca encounters transform their religious beliefs. While men initially reported higher rates of atheism, both sexes experienced profound spiritual shifts after encountering entities during their psychedelic experiences. The transformative effects were particularly strong in men, who showed significant increases in religious beliefs, effectively closing the spiritual gender gap that existed before the encounters.
Abstract
An interesting aspect of entity encounters during psychedelic experiences is their ability to transform one's religious beliefs. However, little is...
Enhanced visual contrast suppression during peak psilocybin effects: Psychophysical results from a pilot randomized controlled trial
Journal of Vision – November 05, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters visual perception, strengthening an effect called surround suppression where a high-contrast background reduces a central image's apparent contrast. A randomized controlled trial with 6 participants found a 25 mg psilocybin dose significantly increased this visual suppression compared to placebo. This finding, relevant to psychology and medicine, illuminates psilocybin's impact on sensory processing. The intensity of subjective psychedelic visuals correlated with this effect, offering insights for Psychedelics and Drug Studies into altered perception—relevant from audiology to paranormal experiences and beliefs—and informing complementary and alternative medicine.
Abstract
In visual perception, an effect known as surround suppression occurs wherein the apparent contrast of a center stimulus is reduced when it is prese...
Inhaled Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Use Patterns and Predictors of Consumption Frequency.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – October 15, 2024
Summary
Many users find inhaled DMT offers psychologically cleansing experiences. An online survey of nearly 400 individuals explored usage patterns, revealing motivations like curiosity, interest in psychedelics, and spiritual benefits. Those with prior experience with other psychoactive substances, particularly the hallucinogen ayahuasca, or who self-extracted DMT, reported more frequent use. Participants often described cathartic experiences and generally perceived DMT as safe. These findings provide valuable insights for understanding this unique compound.
Abstract
Despite increasing interest in psychedelics and their potential therapeutic effects, research on inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) remains limit...
Short-term safety and tolerability profile of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in human subjects: a systematic review of clinical trials.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2024
Summary
A powerful psychedelic compound, 5-MeO-DMT, shows promising safety results in early human trials. Analysis of clinical data from 78 participants, including both healthy volunteers and patients with treatment-resistant depression, revealed no serious adverse events. The compound demonstrated excellent tolerability, with minimal side effects and zero dropouts, suggesting its potential as a safe therapeutic option.
Abstract
Psychedelic agents have regained the attention of pharmaceutical companies as promising treatments for depressive episodes. 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethylt...
New frontiers in the biosynthesis of psychoactive specialized metabolites
Current Opinion in Plant Biology – September 16, 2024
Summary
The relaxation of psychedelic drug regulations has spurred interest in compounds like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for mental health. A review in Drug Studies highlights the intricate biochemistry and biology of hallucinogen production. It details metabolic pathways from diverse plant and fungal interactions, as well as animal sources, yielding five key compounds, including Mescaline, Lysergic acid, and tryptamine derivatives. This exploration of chemical synthesis and alkaloids aims to leverage synthetic biology to create novel psychedelics with superior pharmacology, complementing traditional methods.
Abstract
The recent relaxation of psychedelic drug regulations has prompted extensive clinical investigation into their potential use to treat diverse menta...
LSD-assisted therapy in patients with anxiety: open-label prospective 12-month follow-up.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science – September 01, 2024
Summary
A groundbreaking clinical trial reveals that LSD-assisted therapy offers lasting relief from anxiety and depression. Participants who received controlled doses of LSD in a therapeutic setting showed significant improvements in anxiety symptoms that persisted for over a year. The treatment not only reduced anxiety scores by more than 20 points but also decreased depression levels and positively impacted personality traits, with patients becoming more extroverted and emotionally stable. This promising approach to mental health adds to growing evidence supporting psychedelics' therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are a major public health burden with limited treatment options. We investigated the long-term safety and efficacy of lysergic ac...
Longitudinal experiences of Canadians receiving compassionate access to psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.
Scientific reports – July 17, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy shows promising results for cancer patients experiencing end-of-life distress. In a groundbreaking Canadian program, eight palliative care patients received legal access to psychedelics for therapeutic use. After treatment, participants reported significant improvements in anxiety, depression, pain, and quality of life. While most found the experience meaningful, careful screening remains vital.
Abstract
Recent clinical trials have found that the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin effectively alleviates anxiodepressive symptoms in patients with lif...
The potential of 5‐methoxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A first look at therapeutic mechanisms of action
Addiction Biology – April 01, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies points to 5-MeO-DMT as a rapid-acting medicine for Alcohol use disorder. Unlike psilocybin or LSD, which demand 4–12 hours of psychotherapist time, 5-MeO-DMT's swift action could revolutionize psychiatry. Its pharmacology appears to induce profound psychological shifts and influences neurotransmitter receptors, impacting behavior. This action may alleviate AUD symptoms and mood comorbidities. In the broader context of drug studies, including Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, this short-acting psychedelic offers a promising new direction for alcohol treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide with high economic costs. Current treatment o...
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...
Effects of Ayahuasca on Gratitude and Relationships with Nature: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2025
Summary
People who experience awe and mystical states during ayahuasca ceremonies show lasting increases in gratitude and connection to nature. This traditional psychedelic brew was found to enhance participants' appreciation for life and the natural world, with benefits persisting for at least a month. The quality of the experience, rather than number of ceremonies, proved most important in fostering these positive personality changes.
Abstract
Qualitative studies and anecdotal reports suggest that experiences with ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew found in Central and South America, may be fo...
Perceptual Modifying Compounds and Their Potential Therapeutic Applications in Neuropsychiatric Disorders.
ACS medicinal chemistry letters – January 11, 2024
Summary
Breakthrough research reveals how psychedelic compounds reshape brain circuits to combat depression, anxiety, and addiction. These substances promote neural growth and enhance brain plasticity by activating key cellular pathways. Working through the brain's command center, they strengthen connections in areas controlling mood and fear, offering rapid relief where traditional treatments often fall short.
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds, including ketamine and LSD, have gained renewed interest as potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. These compo...
Greater subjective effects of a low dose of LSD in participants with depressed mood.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – April 01, 2024
Summary
A low dose of LSD produced stronger positive effects in people with depressive symptoms compared to non-depressed individuals. In this placebo-controlled trial, participants received either a micro-dose of LSD or placebo. Those with higher depression scores reported greater improvements in mood, energy, and emotional well-being. The benefits persisted two days after treatment, suggesting therapeutic potential for low-dose psychedelics in mood enhancement.
Abstract
Recent studies and anecdotal reports suggest that psychedelics can improve mood states, even at low doses. However, few placebo-controlled studies ...
Effective Connectivity of Thalamocortical Interactions Following d-Amphetamine, LSD, and MDMA Administration.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging – May 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics and stimulants dramatically alter how brain regions communicate. New research reveals that LSD, MDMA, and d-amphetamine each uniquely affect information flow between the thalamus and different brain areas. Using dynamic causal modeling, scientists found these drugs increase signals from the thalamus to sensory regions while reducing feedback. LSD showed the most profound effects, disrupting normal brain hierarchies.
Abstract
While the exploration of serotonergic psychedelics as psychiatric medicines deepens, so does the pressure to better understand how these compounds ...
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based pharmacokinetic and metabolic analysis of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine and its metabolites in human plasma.
Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals – April 28, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in psychedelic medicine reveals how 2C-B, a compound being studied for mental health treatment, breaks down in the human body. Scientists developed a precise method to track the drug's metabolism and movement through the bloodstream. The research showed that while 2C-B activates brain receptors linked to therapeutic effects, its breakdown products don't share this ability, suggesting careful timing may be key for treatment.
Abstract
4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) is widely used recreationally and has recently gained interest as a treatment for mental health disorder...
Structure-Activity Assessment and In-Depth Analysis of Biased Agonism in a Set of Phenylalkylamine 5-HT2A Receptor Agonists.
ACS chemical neuroscience – August 02, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic compounds work through unique molecular pathways in the brain, specifically targeting the 5-HT2A receptor. Scientists examined how different psychedelic molecules activate this receptor through two distinct cellular pathways - miniGαq and β-arrestin signaling. The research revealed that chemical properties, particularly fat-solubility, influence how strongly these compounds bind and activate neural pathways.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics are described to have activation of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) as their main pharmacological action. Despite thei...
Tabernanthalog Reduces Motivation for Heroin and Alcohol in a Polydrug Use Model.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – June 01, 2023
Summary
A non-hallucinogenic compound shows promise in reducing cravings for both heroin and alcohol simultaneously. In lab tests, tabernanthalog decreased animals' motivation to seek these substances, even after established polydrug use patterns. The drug works without causing psychedelic effects, making it a potentially safer option for treating multiple substance dependencies through a single intervention.
Abstract
The potential use of psychedelic drugs as therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders has been limited by their hallucinogenic properties. To overc...
Psilocybin prevents reinstatement of alcohol seeking by disrupting the reconsolidation of alcohol-related memories.
Psychopharmacology – July 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics may help break the cycle of alcoholism by disrupting how the brain stores drinking-related memories. Research with alcohol-dependent rats shows that psilocybin, when given during memory reconsolidation, significantly reduced alcohol-seeking behavior. While it didn't affect immediate drinking habits, it proved effective at weakening the powerful memories that often trigger relapse in addiction.
Abstract
For most psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), FDA-approved pharmacological treatments are limited and their efficacy is re...
5-MeO-DMT modifies innate behaviors and promotes structural neural plasticity in mice.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2023
Summary
A naturally-occurring compound found in some toads shows promise in rapidly reshaping brain connections. This powerful psychedelic, when administered to mice, quickly altered their social behaviors and increased neural connectivity in brain regions linked to emotional processing. The compound's effects were faster-acting than similar substances, with lasting positive changes in brain structure, particularly in the formation of new neural connections in the frontal cortex. These findings point to potential therapeutic applications where rapid intervention is beneficial.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics are gaining increasing interest as potential therapeutics for a range of mental illnesses. Compounds with short-lived sub...
Psychotherapeutic and neurobiological processes associated with ayahuasca: A proposed model and implications for therapeutic use
Frontiers in Neuroscience – January 31, 2023
Summary
Ayahuasca, a powerful hallucinogen, offers significant therapeutic potential by facilitating five distinct psychotherapeutic processes, according to a large qualitative study of its drinkers. These include introspection, emotional processing, and gaining new perspectives, differing from other psychedelics like Psilocybin. This traditional medicine, increasingly studied in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, shows promise for mental health. Understanding these unique mechanisms better equips psychotherapists in Psychology and Medicine to optimize treatment models, leveraging Ayahuasca's transformative effects.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian plant brew. It is usually made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine (Spruce ex Griseb. Morton, Malpighiaceae), ...
A pilot human study using ketamine to treat disorders of consciousness.
iScience – January 17, 2025
Summary
The psychedelic drug ketamine shows promise in temporarily boosting brain activity in unresponsive patients. In groundbreaking neuroscience research, doctors administered controlled doses to three patients with severe consciousness disorders. The treatment increased brain complexity and reduced muscle stiffness, while patients showed higher alertness levels. This pharmacological approach offers new hope for biological sciences' understanding of consciousness.
Abstract
Post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent persistent neurological conditions with limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. ...
The ketamine chameleon: history, pharmacology, and the contested value of experience.
Expert review of clinical pharmacology – March 01, 2025
Summary
Ketamine's remarkable versatility in medicine spans from battlefield anesthesia to breakthrough depression treatments. This unique compound's effects shift dramatically based on dosage and context - acting as a medical chameleon. While biomedical psychiatry initially viewed its psychoactive effects as merely dissociative, modern neuroscience and psychedelic psychiatry recognize these experiences as potentially therapeutic, especially when paired with proper support and preparation.
Abstract
Since its synthesis in 1962, ketamine has been widely used in diverse medical contexts, from anesthesia to treatment-resistant depression. However,...
Psychotropic Drugs Reemerging as Headache Medicines.
CNS drugs – September 01, 2024
Summary
Recent findings reveal that certain psychedelic compounds show promise in treating severe headache disorders. Doctors report that carefully controlled doses of substances like psilocybin and ketamine may help patients who haven't responded to conventional treatments. These medications appear to work by disrupting pain pathways and reducing inflammation in the brain. Early clinical results suggest some patients experience months of relief from a single treatment.
Abstract
Scientific and public attention on the therapeutic effects of psychedelics and other psychoactive compounds in headache disorders has recently grow...
[Clinical management of treatment-resistant depression].
Der Nervenarzt – May 01, 2024
Summary
When traditional antidepressants fail, innovative pharmacological therapies targeting the glutamatergic system show remarkable promise. Recent advances combine rapid-acting compounds like esketamine with experimental treatments, including carefully monitored psychedelics. Off-label use of certain medications offers additional options, creating a more comprehensive approach to treating severe depression.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a complex disorder. Although no standardized definition has been established to date, there are promising a...
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being
Frontiers in Psychology – August 19, 2021
Summary
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings, profound altered states of consciousness, are overwhelmingly positive, even when initially challenging. A Psychology survey of 152 individuals revealed these experiences, which drastically shift perception and worldview, are phenomenologically similar to those induced by classic psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin, though greater in magnitude. Personality traits, such as absorption, predict these events. This work, relevant to Phenomenology, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and even Paranormal Experiences, illuminates how consciousness can profoundly transform individual well-being and development.
Abstract
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings (SSAs) are subjective experiences characterised by a sudden sense of direct contact, union, or complete nondual me...
[Mechanisms of action and therapeutic perspectives of LSD: Current status].
Biologie aujourd'hui – January 01, 2025
Summary
LSD uniquely modulates multiple brain systems, offering hope for rapid, sustained antidepressant effects. Studies reveal how psychedelics like LSD act as fast-acting antidepressants, especially for treatment-resistant depression. Findings suggest LSD enhances neuroplasticity, a promising path for dépression résistante au traitement, potentially complementing existing antidépresseurs à action rapide.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and disabling condition affecting over 350 million individuals worldwide. Although conventional anti...
Complex slow waves in the human brain under 5-MeO-DMT.
Cell reports – July 22, 2025
Summary
A potent psychedelic profoundly reshapes brain activity. Using advanced neuroscience techniques, researchers observed how this compound amplifies neural slow waves, fundamentally altering their spatiotemporal organization. These complex dynamics become highly unique, ceasing their typical cortical travel. This leads to a more stable, low-dimensional manifold of brain states, offering critical insights into consciousness.
Abstract
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic drug known for its uniquely profound effects on consciousness; however, it remains un...
Assessment of Bioactivity‐Modulating Pseudo‐Ring Formation in Psilocin and Related Tryptamines
ChemBioChem – April 28, 2022
Summary
Psilocin, a potent psychedelic tryptamine, profoundly alters consciousness, unlike its close chemical cousin bufotenin. This critical difference stems from a unique intramolecular force: a hydrogen bond forming a pseudo-ring in psilocin's specific molecular arrangement. This fundamental chemistry, vital for understanding psychedelics and drug studies, allows a higher number of uncharged psilocin molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier. Such nuances in chemical synthesis and alkaloids' structural chemistry dictate their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Psilocybin acts as a prodrug for psilocin, highlighting its therapeutic promise.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin ( 1 ) is the major alkaloid found in psychedelic mushrooms and acts as a prodrug to psilocin ( 2 , 4‐hydroxy‐ N , N ‐dimethyltr...
Ibogaine therapy for addiction: Consumer views from online fora.
The International journal on drug policy – September 01, 2020
Summary
Individuals exploring ibogaine therapy for addiction often find vital support and information within online fora. Analyzing discussions from popular online communities like Reddit revealed that these platforms are key resources for understanding ibogaine's use and risks. Users value personal experiences and evidence-based information, discussing treatment safety and harm reduction extensively. Positive psychological changes from the psychedelic experience were frequently reported. These online spaces foster a sense of community, where neuroscientific explanations of addiction resonate, providing a valuable platform for peer support related to ibogaine treatment.
Abstract
Background Ibogaine is a psychedelic drug used by for-profit clinics and lay-people to treat addiction, despite some reported fatalities and a lack...
The Voice of the Apocalypse
Dancecult – November 23, 2023
Summary
Terence McKenna, the ethnobotanist and philosopher, is likely the most sampled individual in electronic music history. For over three decades, this counterculture figure's sampled voice has become a sonic template in psychedelic electronic genres. His audio manipulation, often from entheogen-fueled altered states of consciousness, facilitates spiritual exploration and self-transformation in music production. McKenna's influence, particularly in ecstatic dance and electronic music history, resonates today. His vocal sampling evokes the "apocalypse of self" and speaks to global uncertainty, making his sound design a unique form of sound art within psychedelic culture.
Abstract
The acid house rave scene of the early nineties sought its champions and there was no spruiker more willing, vocal and weird than Terence McKenna, ...
Predicting the outcome of psilocybin treatment for depression from baseline fMRI functional connectivity.
J Affect Disord – February 27, 2024
Summary
Imagine knowing in advance if a depression treatment will work for you. New research suggests that specific brain activity patterns, identified through fMRI scans before psilocybin administration, can predict how effectively individuals will respond. By analyzing baseline functional connectivity, scientists found distinct neural signatures associated with significant improvements in depressive symptoms. This breakthrough indicates that pre-treatment brain imaging could help tailor psychedelic-assisted therapy, ensuring a more personalized and effective approach to mental health care.
Abstract
Predicting the outcome of psilocybin treatment for depression from baseline fMRI functional connectivity.
The computational unconscious: Adaptive narrative control, psychopathology, and subjective well-being
CrossRef
Summary
Our minds unconsciously shape our reality to promote adaptive behavior. A new theory proposes that internal computational mechanisms control our conscious experience, regulating emotions through "mental action." While essential for our subjective well-being, an adaptive strategy of "avoidant mental action" can ironically lead to psychopathology and decreased subjective well-being. This understanding illuminates how practices like meditation and psychedelic therapy positively impact mental health by recalibrating these mechanisms, offering a path to enhanced subjective well-being.
Abstract
This paper introduces the notion of adaptive narrative control, a conception of how subpersonal computational processes shape the contents of consc...
Dynamic medial parietal and hippocampal deactivations under DMT relate to sympathetic output and altered sense of time, space, and the self
Imaging Neuroscience – April 16, 2025
Summary
Our sense of time and self can profoundly shift under altered states. Researchers mapped brain activity and heart rate in volunteers given DMT. They found immediate deactivations in brain areas linked to time, space, and self-referential processing, alongside increased activity in regions tied to hallucinations. Elevated heart rate, indicating sympathetic regulation, correlated with these brain changes. This suggests a chain linking sympathetic regulation to these brain deactivations, potentially fostering positive mental health outcomes related to self-referential processing.
Abstract
Abstract N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, cha...
Investigation of the Structure–Activity Relationships of Psilocybin Analogues
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science – December 14, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic drug studies reveal that 4-acetoxy tryptamines, often from chemical synthesis, likely function as prodrugs *in vivo*. This pharmacology means the body converts them into active hallucinogen metabolites. Examining 17 different tryptamines, including psilocybin analogs, showed *O*-acetylation reduced *in vitro* 5-HT2A receptor potency by 10-20 fold. Yet, *in vivo* effects were similar. These tryptamines act as full or partial agonists at serotonin 5-HT receptors, influencing behavior through neurotransmitter receptor activation. Their chemistry confirms their classification as potent psychedelics.
Abstract
The 5-HT2A receptor is thought to be the primary target for psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) and other serotonergic hallucinogen...
Indigenous psilocybin mushroom practices: An annotated bibliography
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – February 19, 2024
Summary
An essential annotated bibliography compiles 49 texts on Indigenous psilocybin mushroom practices, offering crucial contextualization. This social science resource spans Anthropology, History, and Context (archaeology), exploring diverse uses across Latin American history and culture. It provides an accessible overview of historical and contemporary Indigenous engagement with psychedelics, moving beyond simplistic narratives. The collection, drawing from Library science and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, critically appraises research, including aspects of chemical synthesis and alkaloids, fostering a more nuanced understanding of Indigenous contributions to the global conversation around psilocybin.
Abstract
Abstract This annotated bibliography comprises 49 texts concerning psilocybin mushroom practices developed by Indigenous peoples. The books and art...
Psilocybin Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology (URNCST) Journal – July 19, 2023
Summary
A systematic review of seven peer-reviewed studies reveals a compelling finding: psilocybin significantly reduces major depressive disorder symptoms. Doses from 15mg to 25mg/70kg showed meaningful improvements, with higher doses generally more effective. This promising psychedelic alkaloid demonstrated minimal side effects. Such findings, crucial for psychology and medicine, informed by rigorous library science, could reshape psychotherapist training in medical education. The efficacy of psychedelics and drug studies like this may also influence political science discussions on future therapeutic access.
Abstract
Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and complex mood disorder. Its psychotherapies often involve delayed treatment-respons...
Exploring the relationship between mental health, drug use, personality, and attitudes towards psilocybin-assisted therapy
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – August 21, 2023
Summary
Young adults are largely open to psilocybin-assisted therapy, challenging its historical taboo. An online survey of 118 Australian young adults via computer-assisted web interviewing revealed positive attitudes towards this hallucinogen's therapeutic potential. Individuals more open to new experiences and those with prior recreational drug use—including cannabis or other psychedelics like Lysergic acid diethylamide—showed greater support for psilocybin's safety, legality, and research in clinical psychology and psychiatry. This suggests a shifting public perception, moving psilocybin from a stigmatized drug to a promising tool in psychology, informed by Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, is increasingly discussed in terms of its psychotherapeutic potential...
The serotonin 1B receptor is required for some of the behavioral effects of psilocybin in mice
OpenAlex – October 21, 2024
Summary
A compelling neuroscience discovery reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may alleviate depression through an unexpected serotonin receptor. Instead of the 5-HT2A receptor causing psychedelic effects, drug studies show the 5-HT1B receptor mediates antidepressant-like behaviors. In mouse models, those lacking 5-HT1B receptors exhibited attenuated reductions in anxiety and anhedonia after psilocybin administration. This pharmacology insight into neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior suggests targeting non-hallucinogenic receptors could offer new strategies in psychology and psychedelic drug development, broadening the scope of drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Recent studies highlight the promising use of psychedelic therapies for psychiatric disorders, including depression. The persisting clinic...
Psilocybin Promotes Cell-Type-Specific Changes in the Orbitofrontal Cortex Revealed by Single-Nucleus RNA-seq
OpenAlex – January 07, 2024
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen Psilocybin profoundly impacts brain function, a key finding in Neuroscience. This psychedelic, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, induces long-term genetic and functional changes in neurons within the orbitofrontal cortex, a region crucial for Psychology and vulnerable in brain disorders. These changes, affecting excitatory and inhibitory neurons, collectively reduce circuit activity. Blocking the 5-HT 2A receptor, central to Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, in specific neurons reversed these effects, highlighting psilocybin's precise mechanisms.
Abstract
Abstract Recent clinical breakthroughs hold great promise for the application of psilocybin in the treatments of psychological disorders, such as d...
Examining Attitudes to Psilocybin: Should Candidates for Medical Psilocybin be Required to Pass a Contextual Suitability Test?
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – August 18, 2022
Summary
A compelling finding in clinical psychology reveals that psychological factors significantly predict attitudes toward psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. Among 219 participants (52.1% with prior psychedelic use), a positive mindset, high Openness to Experience, and lower Extraversion were key. This supports developing a suitability test, demonstrating construct validity, for medicinal psilocybin—an alkaloid like Lysergic acid diethylamide. Such a test, incorporating a psychological scale, is vital for psychiatry and ongoing psychedelics and drug studies, acknowledging psilocybin's nature as a chemically synthesized alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors and behavior.
Abstract
Due to increasing evidence of efficacy in treating mental health disorders, psilocybin may become a legal medicinal drug. This study tested the val...
Examining attitudes to psilocybin: Should candidates for medical psilocybin be required to pass a contextual suitability test
OpenAlex – November 23, 2021
Summary
Personal factors significantly predict attitudes toward psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, in drug studies. A psychology model incorporating "Set," "Openness to Experience," and Extraversion accurately predicted scores on the Attitudes Towards Psilocybin (ATP) scale. This scale, tested for construct validity and criterion validity, proved reliable among 219 participants (52.1% having used psychedelics). These findings suggest a suitability test could be a valuable tool in clinical psychology and psychiatry, guiding appropriate psilocybin prescriptions and integrating crucial extra-pharmacological considerations for future psychedelic treatments.
Abstract
Background: Due to increasing evidence of efficacy in treating mental health disorders, psilocybin may become a legal medicinal drug. This study te...
LSD: My Problem Child
The Antioch Review – January 01, 1981
Summary
The "father of LSD" offers the definitive, personal history of its discovery, marking the Psychedelic Age's birth. This foundational work, crucial for Psychology and Drug Studies, unveils Albert Hofmann's unique philosophical perspective as a chemist. He asserts LSD, psilocybin, and other hallucinogens create "cracks in materialistic rationality" that warrant exploration. Insights from this pivotal text, including two chapters presented at a September 30, 1978 conference, with one published in the Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, Vol. 11 (1-2), 1979, remain profoundly significant.
Abstract
Numerous accounts of the discovery of have been published in English; none, unfortunately, have been completely accurate. Here, at last, the father...
The Unique Neural Signature of Your Trip: Functional Connectome Fingerprints of Subjective Psilocybin Experience
OpenAlex – March 21, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, creates highly unique "brain fingerprints" that predict subjective psychedelic experiences. Using functional neuroimaging (fMRI), individual functional connectomes became more idiosyncratic post-psilocybin, concentrating in the Default Mode Network (DMN). This DMN connectome pattern, showing reduced internal and limbic connectivity but increased links to attentional systems, was central. This neuroscience and psychology work, leveraging brain fingerprinting, advances psychedelics and drug studies, bridging brain changes with behavior and highlighting psilocybin's (an alkaloid) neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Abstract The emerging neuroscientific frontier of brain fingerprinting has recently established that human functional connectomes (FCs) exhibit fin...
Effect of psilocybin on marble-burying in ICR mice: Role of 5-HT1A receptors and implications for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder
OpenAlex – July 14, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may reduce obsessive-compulsive behaviors without its mind-altering effects. In male ICR mice, Psilocybin (4.4 mg/kg) significantly reduced marble-burying. Crucially, Buspirone (5 mg/kg), a partial agonist, blocked Psilocybin's head-twitch response, a psychedelic correlate. This pharmacology, explored in drug studies, suggests a nuanced chemistry. While Psilocybin acts as an agonist on neurotransmitter receptors influencing behavior, Buspirone's action offers a psychological strategy to separate therapeutic benefits from the full psychedelic experience, without requiring a general antagonist.
Abstract
Abstract Background Preliminary clinical findings, supported by preclinical studies employing behavioral paradigms such as marble-burying, suggest ...
Psychoactive Drugs in the Management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Promising New Horizon
Cureus – May 23, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics are offering a powerful new frontier in Psychiatry, particularly for traumatic stress and anxiety. Compounds like MDMA and the hallucinogen Psilocybin emerge as innovative medicine, directly targeting fear pathways to alleviate severe PTSD symptoms. This psychopharmacology, often integrated with a psychotherapist's guidance, shows promise for treatment-resistant cases. Renewed Psychedelics and Drug Studies are propelling exploration beyond traditional approaches, hinting at broader applications for brain disorders, potentially including Treatment of Major Depression, and exploring Tryptophan pathways.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that often presents after exposure to a traumatic, life-threatening event. Experiencin...
Altered States
Anesthesiology – September 21, 2013
Summary
A fascinating neuroimaging discovery reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, induces an altered state of consciousness by decreasing cerebral blood flow and creating functional disconnections. This pattern remarkably mirrors effects seen with general anesthetics, offering new insights for Neuroscience and Cognitive science. This comparison, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, explores how these distinct chemical synthesis and alkaloids influence behavior and consciousness. Understanding these mechanisms could revolutionize medicine's approach to altered states, linking ancient psychedelic experiences to modern neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Abstract The psychedelic experience has been reported since antiquity, but there is relatively little known about the underlying neural mechanisms....
Jekyll and Hyde Revisited: Paradoxes in the Appreciation of Drug Experiences and Their Effects on Creativity
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – September 01, 2002
Summary
Paradoxically, psychedelic experiences, like those from psilocybin, often evoke simultaneous feelings of both "possession" by an external agency and profound liberation. While social psychology typically divides these into two opposed cultural interpretations—either revealing hidden truths or being under an irrational influence—the reality for artists engaged in creativity, as seen in visual culture, suggests a complex interplay. Experiential learning shows aesthetic traits in art reflecting both extremes, bridging the "demoniacal" and "psychedelic" in a single psychological reality, challenging our epistemology.
Abstract
Historically, states of intoxication--like dreams and madness--are seen in either one of two opposed ways. The intoxicated are either "possessed" o...
Tending a Vibrant World
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals – October 01, 2023
Summary
The commercialization of Indigenous sacred plant medicines, from tobacco to psilocybin, risks severing their deep relationality. Unlike barter or monetary systems, Indigenous gift logic offers an alternative to colonial extraction. This logic underpins an episteme where plants possess their own agency, challenging conventional Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Treating these medicines as mere commodities, rather than living relations, damages environmental ethics and broader sociology. Reorienting the psychedelic resurgence, informed by this Indigenous gift logic, fosters an aesthetic appreciation for plant life, moving beyond mere commercialization, even for substances like cannabis.
Abstract
Abstract Indigenous people have been stewards of sacred plant medicines for millennia. Many of these sacred medicines—such as tobacco, cedar, sage,...
Attitudes Towards Psilocybin: A General Population’s Opinions on Psilocybin and Psilocybin-Assisted Therapies
Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research – January 01, 2025
Summary
Overall attitudes towards psilocybin-assisted therapies are positive, suggesting a growing receptiveness to these innovative treatments. A survey of 235 individuals revealed that prior knowledge of psilocybin and experience with psychedelics correlated with more favorable views. This insight, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, indicates that as the therapeutic potential of compounds derived through chemical synthesis and alkaloids is further explored, public acceptance may expand. Men, Democrats, and atheists also reported more positive attitudes.
Abstract
Psilocybin-assisted therapies (PAT) have been used to treat several issues including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder...
Neuromodulatory mechanisms of N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Brain Network and Modulation – July 01, 2023
Summary
Naturally occurring DMT, a potent psychedelic, holds significant promise for its antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive properties. Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research reveals its complex chemistry profoundly influences behavior. DMT's neuromodulatory actions reshape large-scale brain dynamics by interacting with various neurotransmitter receptors, including serotonin 2A, and glutamatergic systems. This alters perception and enhances bottom-up processing. Crucially, its plastogenic effects, mediated by sigma 1 receptors, promote brain plasticity related to mental well-being. These insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight DMT's therapeutic potential.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is the simplest psychedelic tryptamine and is produced naturally by many plant and animal species, including humans. W...
Pharmacology of Hallucinations: Several Mechanisms for One Single Symptom?
BioMed Research International – January 01, 2014
Summary
Hallucinations, a hallmark of psychosis in Schizophrenia, arise from at least three distinct biological mechanisms, a key Neuroscience finding. Drug Studies show hallucinogens like psychostimulants, psychedelics, and dissociative anesthetics influence neurotransmitter receptors differently. Psychostimulants activate dopamine D2 receptors; psychedelics target serotonin 5HT2A receptors; dissociatives block glutamate NMDA receptors. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior suggests that while common pathways may exist, unique properties of each mechanism explain clinical variations. This Psychology insight is crucial for Medicine, informing Schizophrenia research and treatment.
Abstract
Hallucinations are complex misperceptions, that principally occur in schizophrenia or after intoxication induced by three main classes of drugs: ps...