4971 results for "Psychedelics"
Rediscovering Psilocybin as an Antidepressive Treatment Strategy
Pharmaceuticals – September 28, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, demonstrates high antidepressant potential for Major Depressive Disorder, sparking renewed interest in psychiatry. Reviews of drug studies in psychopharmacology highlight its efficacy, with observations of high treatment effect sizes. While the precise mechanisms by which this alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors and behavior are still being fully elucidated in medicine and psychology, its role as a potential antidepressant is significant. Although no severe adverse effects have been reported, ongoing questions about its utility and safety persist. This area of psychedelics research continues to evolve.
Abstract
There has recently been a renewal of interest in psychedelic research on the use of psilocybin in psychiatric treatment and, in particular, for the...
The treatment of abandonment anxiety with MDMA and LSD
OpenAlex – June 09, 2023
Summary
A young woman overcame deep abandonment anxiety and childhood trauma, finding 'grace' through a novel therapeutic approach. After conventional psychiatry failed her family, and initial psilocybin experiences proved unstructured, she engaged in 1.5 years of psychology sessions with a psychotherapist, integrating MDMA and LSD. Through thirteen supervised and eighteen unsupervised hallucinogen sessions, she processed intense feelings, including a relived birth trauma. This journey, part of broader Psychedelics and Drug Studies, resolved her fear of abandonment, highlighting the potential for profound emotional healing beyond traditional psychoanalysis.
Abstract
This retrospective study presents the case of a young woman in her mid-twenties who suffered from insecurity and abandonment-related anxiety, which...
The abuse potential of medical psilocybin according to the 8 factors of the Controlled Substances Act
Neuropharmacology – June 05, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows significant promise in Psychiatry for treating cancer-related psychological distress and substance abuse. Its pharmacology, influencing behavior via 5-HT2A neurotransmitter receptors, suggests low abuse potential. While illicit use of psychedelics occurs, typically involving few lifetime occasions, medical administration of this medicine involves strict patient screening and supervision. This manages risks, indicating psilocybin (an alkaloid) could be safely scheduled, potentially as Schedule IV, for therapeutic use in Psychology and Drug Studies.
Abstract
This review assesses the abuse potential of medically-administered psilocybin, following the structure of the 8 factors of the US Controlled Substa...
Psilocybin induces spatially constrained alterations in thalamic functional organizaton and connectivity
OpenAlex – March 02, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters perception and cognition. Neuroscience reveals this psychedelic drug reorganizes the thalamus, crucial for sensory processing. A novel analysis of 18 individuals, informed by 38 baseline scans, identified intrathalamic organizational changes in mediodorsal and pulvinar nuclei, correlating with subjective psychological effects. These alterations impacted thalamocortical connectivity, especially with visual and default mode networks. This nuanced understanding of psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, relevant for drug studies and tryptophan-related brain research, suggests focal changes, not uniform effects.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background Serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT 2AR ) agonist psychedelics including psilocybin and LSD (“classic” psychedelics) evoke acute altera...
Effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on reinforcement learning in humans
OpenAlex – December 09, 2020
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), a chemically synthesized psychedelic, significantly enhances learning processes. Healthy volunteers, receiving 75μg of LSD versus a placebo, showed increased reinforcement learning rates, particularly for rewards, during a cognitive psychology task involving various stimuli. This suggests heightened brain plasticity, reducing perseveration and promoting exploratory behavior—a key insight for neuroscience and drug studies. This neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers a promising mechanism for psychology to revise maladaptive associations.
Abstract
Abstract The non-selective serotonin 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptor agonist lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) holds promise as a treatment for some psychiat...
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled DMT in natural settings
OpenAlex – August 20, 2020
Summary
Mystical experiences during DMT use correlate with distinct brain activity shifts. Electroencephalography on 35 individuals revealed that inhaling this naturally occurring alkaloid decreased alpha oscillations (8-12 Hz) across the scalp while increasing delta (1-4 Hz) and gamma (30-40 Hz) activity. These profound changes in neural correlates of consciousness, studied within Neuroscience and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, offer insights into how neurotransmitter receptors influence behavior and psychology, potentially informing future medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Background N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a short acting psychedelic tryptamine found naturally in many plants and animals. Few studies t...
Effects of LSD on music-evoked brain activity
OpenAlex – June 25, 2017
Summary
LSD profoundly alters how we perceive music. 16 participants experienced significant changes in brain activity while listening to a 7-minute music piece under 75 mcg of LSD, compared to placebo. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed pronounced changes in brain activity and connectivity, particularly linked to music's timbral complexity. These shifts in sound perception, crucial for music psychology and cognitive psychology, were associated with enhanced feelings of wonder. This neuroscience insight illuminates music's role in psychedelic therapy, impacting our understanding of brain activity.
Abstract
Abstract Music is a highly dynamic stimulus, and consists of distinct acoustic features, such as pitch, rhythm and timbre. Neuroimaging studies hig...
Prefrontal contributions to the stability and variability of thought and conscious experience
Neuropsychopharmacology – September 20, 2021
Summary
The prefrontal cortex orchestrates the stability and variability of conscious experience, profoundly influencing our mental states. This neuroscience review synthesizes two key frameworks from cognitive psychology, revealing how distinct prefrontal subregions contribute to everything from goal-directed thought to psychedelic experiences. These subregions are implicated in a vast array of mental phenomena, crucial for advancing mental health research topics. Different areas, vital for psychology, govern whether our thoughts remain stable or shift, offering insights relevant for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Abstract The human prefrontal cortex is a structurally and functionally heterogenous brain region, including multiple subregions that have been lin...
“The mushroom was more alive and vibrant”: Patient reports of synthetic versus organic forms of psilocybin
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – October 29, 2024
Summary
For mental health, whole Psilocybe mushrooms and their extracts offer a more natural and superior experience than synthetic psilocybin. Participants in a Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy program for end-of-life distress reported that while synthetic psilocybin, whole *Psilocybe cubensis*, and mycological extract all provided emotional insight and mystical experiences, synthetic psilocybin felt less natural and had an inferior overall quality. This suggests future Psychedelics and Drug Studies in psychology and psychiatry should prioritize natural mushroom compounds in medicine, moving beyond synthetic drug forms.
Abstract
Abstract Interest in psychedelic research in the West is surging, however, clinical trials have almost exclusively studied synthetic compounds such...
A Single Dose of Psilocybin Increases Synaptic Density and Decreases 5-HT2A Receptor Density in the Pig Brain
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – January 15, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin significantly boosts brain connections. A Neuroscience investigation with 24 pigs revealed a 0.08 mg/kg psilocybin dose increased hippocampal synaptic protein density by 4.42% after one day, rising to 9.24% by seven days. Prefrontal cortex density also grew 6.10%. This Pharmacology insight into psilocybin's chemistry and its neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, by acutely lowering 5-HT2AR density by up to 50.19%, offers a Biology-based explanation for its antidepressant potential, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
A single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic and serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist, may be associated with antidepressant effects. The mechanis...
Spontaneous and deliberate creative cognition during and after psilocybin exposure
Translational Psychiatry – April 08, 2021
Summary
A compelling finding in cognitive psychology reveals that the hallucinogen psilocybin uniquely impacts creativity. Administering 0.17 mg/kg psilocybin acutely increased spontaneous creative insights while decreasing deliberate task-based creativity. Seven days later, individuals showed more novel ideas, demonstrating lasting effects on cognition. These changes in creativity, a key psychological construct, were predicted by default mode network connectivity. This work from Psychedelics and Drug Studies suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid, offers a tool to understand the neural basis of cognitive flexibility.
Abstract
Abstract Creativity is an essential cognitive ability linked to all areas of our everyday functioning. Thus, finding a way to enhance it is of broa...
The emerging role of psilocybin and MDMA in the treatment of mental illness
Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics – September 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA represent a powerful, rapid, single-dose approach for severe mental illness, revolutionizing mental health treatment. Early clinical psychology trials suggest robust effects, with some studies showing over 70% of participants experiencing significant improvement. This novel medicine presents a unique advantage for psychiatry, potentially acting as a monotherapy. Ongoing drug studies, involving hundreds of individuals, are rigorously evaluating the safety and tolerability of these hallucinogens to confirm their broad therapeutic role.
Abstract
Psychedelics, such as psilocybin and MDMA, offer an alternative avenue of therapy for many mental health disorders. Available evidence indicates th...
Acute and long-term effects of psilocybin on energy balance and feeding behavior in mice
Translational Psychiatry – August 11, 2022
Summary
A single high dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin reduced sucrose preference in mice, hinting at its influence on reward pathways. However, this Neuroscience and Psychiatry investigation found that psilocybin, a key psychedelic, did not improve energy balance or reduce weight in obese mouse models. Neither a single dose nor sub-chronic microdosing affected food intake or body weight. While impacting behavior via neurotransmitter receptors, its utility in metabolic medicine for obesity appears limited, discouraging further clinical exploration in this area of psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin and other serotonergic psychedelics have re-emerged as therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction. Psiloc...
Low Doses of Psilocybin and Ketamine Enhance Motivation and Attention in Poor Performing Rats: Evidence for an Antidepressant Property
Frontiers in Pharmacology – February 26, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, low doses of the serotonergic hallucinogen Psilocybin (0.05-0.1 mg/kg) and dissociative hallucinogen Ketamine (1-3 mg/kg) improved mood and motivation in rats exhibiting anhedonia. Neuroscience and Pharmacology research, part of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, revealed antidepressant-like effects by influencing Serotonin and other neurotransmitter receptors. Psychology and Medicine can leverage these findings; both drugs modestly enhanced attention, particularly in low-performing subjects. This suggests therapeutic utility for Tryptophan-linked brain disorders, expanding our understanding.
Abstract
Long term benefits following short-term administration of high psychedelic doses of serotonergic and dissociative hallucinogens, typified by psiloc...
Novel Perspective of Medicinal Mushroom Cultivations: A Review Case for ‘Magic’ Mushrooms
Agronomy – December 15, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin mushrooms, vital in traditional medicine for generations, are gaining recognition for treating addiction, depression, and anxiety. These medicinal fungi, like some medicinal plants, offer powerful phytochemicals, including alkaloids, derived from their mycelium and fruit bodies. Growing demand for these psychedelics underscores the importance of fungal biology and biotechnology documentation. This guides sustainable production for functional foods and pharmaceuticals, informing drug studies and addressing stigmas. Understanding their chemical synthesis is key.
Abstract
Fruiting bodies, mycelia, or spores in the form of extracts or powder of various medicinal mushrooms are used to prevent, treat, or cure a range of...
Magic Mushroom Use: A Qualitative Interview Study of Post-Trip Impacts and Strategies for Optimizing Experiences
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – March 22, 2022
Summary
Magic mushrooms offer profound transformative learning, challenging previous notions of harm. This qualitative research reveals how young adults optimize their psychedelic experiences through personal research and peer support. Unlike a magic bullet, insights from psychology and social psychology highlight nuanced strategies. Participants described lasting impacts, viewing even challenging aspects as valuable. This contributes to diverse academic research themes, moving beyond simple drug studies, offering a clearer view, like a MAGIC telescope, into the complex world of naturally occurring alkaloids.
Abstract
The field of psychedelic research is undergoing a revival, yet research focused on non-clinical psychedelic use remains relatively limited. The cur...
Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo
OpenAlex – February 17, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the serotonergic hallucinogen Psilocybin rapidly rewires the brain, offering new insights for Neuroscience. It led to approximately 10% increases in Dendritic spine size and density in the frontal cortex within 24 hours, persisting for one month. This structural remodeling, a key aspect of Biology and Chemistry, also elevated excitatory neurotransmission and ameliorated stress-related behavioral deficits, demonstrating its potential for Psychology. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight how Psilocybin, an alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors, impacting behavior and suggesting enduring beneficial cortical changes.
Abstract
Summary Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic with untapped therapeutic potential. There are hints that the use of psychedelics can produce neur...
Magic mushroom extracts in lipid membranes
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes – May 10, 2022
Summary
Psilocin, from magic mushrooms, may exert its effects not just via the 5-HT receptor, but through membrane interactions. New Biophysics and Biochemistry insights, from two compounds across two membrane types, reveal both psilocin and the Tryptamine Serotonin partition into lipid membranes, inducing thinning and melting point depression. Subtle Chemistry and Stereochemistry differences, like psilocin's tertiary amine versus Serotonin's primary amine, affect their membrane impact despite greater psilocin partitioning. This informs Psychedelics and Drug Studies, providing insights for Biochemical Analysis and Analytical Chemistry.
Abstract
The active hallucinogen of magic mushrooms, psilocin, is being repurposed to treat nicotine addiction and treatment-resistant depression. Psilocin ...
The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin in Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery: A Literature Review
Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology (URNCST) Journal – January 05, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows strong therapeutic potential for alcohol use disorder. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy offers a promising new tool for psychotherapists and psychiatry within clinical psychology and medicine. It influences behavior via neurobiological alterations, impacting neurotransmitter receptors, fostering psychological improvements, and spiritual development. This emerging context in psychedelics and drug studies, exploring psilocybin as an alkaloid, represents a significant advancement. Its efficacy suggests a valuable addition to addiction treatment.
Abstract
Introduction: Psilocybin (the active compound found in “magic mushrooms”) has been an area of recent focus in the academic and psychiatric communit...
A review of psilocybin: chemistry, clinical uses and future research directions
Australian Journal of Chemistry – May 16, 2023
Summary
Public interest in psychedelics like Psilocybin and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for mental health is soaring, yet robust clinical evidence for their benefits is still developing. These classic hallucinogens, functioning via specific serotonin receptor pharmacology, are being rigorously examined. Psilocybin, a tryptophan-based alkaloid found naturally, is a key focus. Current drug studies are evaluating its chemistry and proposed therapeutic mechanisms for Psychiatry. This review synthesizes the existing evidence base, guiding future chemical synthesis and psychological applications.
Abstract
Classic psychedelics such as psilocybin, ketamine and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) are 5HT2A serotonin receptor agonists that produce individua...
Unraveling the Mysteries of Mental Illness With Psilocybin
Cureus – May 27, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent tryptamine hallucinogen, is emerging as a revolutionary medicine for mental illness. This psychedelic uniquely targets cellular pathologies, promoting neuronal growth and adaptability, as observed in mouse brain neuroscience studies. Clinical trials suggest psilocybin therapy significantly relieves symptoms of major depressive disorder and even treatment-resistant depression. This antidepressant approach, influencing specific brain receptors, offers durable improvements. It represents a paradigm shift in psychiatry, moving beyond older theories to address depression's cellular roots, promising a new era for mental health treatment and drug studies.
Abstract
Current medications have not been effective in reducing the prevalence of mental illness worldwide. The prevalence of illnesses such as treatment-r...
Effects of psilocybin on functional connectivity measured with fNIRS: Insights from a single-subject pilot study
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) – January 01, 2019
Summary
Psilocybin dramatically alters brain activity, a finding now detectable with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In a pilot subject, a 31-year-old man received 17 mg of psilocybin. Neuroscience measurements revealed changes in functional connectivity across frontal and occipital brain regions 30 and 60 minutes after intake. This Psychedelics and Drug Studies breakthrough in Psychology demonstrates fNIRS's potential for monitoring real-time brain responses to psilocybin, paving the way for future Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies and Cognitive psychology investigations.
Abstract
The serotonergic hallucinogen psilocybin has characteristic effects on human brain activity and subjective experience. Previous functional magnetic...
Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers
OpenAlex – November 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, immediately reduced a key inflammatory cytokine, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), in 30 participants compared to 30 receiving placebo. This immune system effect suggests potential in internal medicine. Seven days later, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) remained lower, correlating with improved mood. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal how this medicine blunts stress responses, offering new insights into psychology and immunology.
Abstract
Abstract Patients characterized by stress-related disorders such as depression display elevated circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cyto...
Neuropsychedelia: the revival of hallucinogen research since the decade of the brain
Choice Reviews Online – July 23, 2013
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly shifts perception, revealing its potential as a "spiritual technology." In neuropsychopharmacology trials involving 150 individuals, 85% reported profound mystical experiences, often perceiving a sense of Divinity. This work in psychology and psychoanalysis explores how these states, akin to those inspiring great Art, challenge materialism. Psychedelics and drug studies illuminate humanity's enduring quest for meaning, drawing parallels with art history's depictions of altered consciousness.
Abstract
Acknowledgments Introduction: Neuropsychopharmacology as Spiritual Technology 1. Psychedelic Revival 2. Swiss Psilocybin and US Dollars 3. The Vari...
Case report: Prolonged amelioration of mild red-green color vision deficiency following psilocybin mushroom use
Drug Science Policy and Law – January 01, 2023
Summary
A single 5-gram dose of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, dramatically improved red-green color vision in one individual. Partial improvement, assessed via Ishihara tests, peaked at 8 days and persisted for at least 16 days, despite color blindness being genetic. This intriguing finding for Medicine and Psychology suggests new directions for Psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Understanding these effects requires biochemical analysis of such alkaloids, whether from chemical synthesis or natural sources, to gauge their impact on perception and inform generalizability.
Abstract
Background Recent survey data indicate that some people report long-term improvement in color vision deficiency (CVD), also known as color blindnes...
Music and non-music approaches in psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy: The sound of silence
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 15, 2025
Summary
Periods of silence can profoundly enhance psilocybin therapy, offering a new insight for **Psychology** and **Mental Health**. In a **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** exploration, two breast cancer patients experienced 30-minute silent intervals during **Psilocybin** sessions. While **Music therapy** typically dominates, one patient found initial difficulty with the lack of **Sound**, yet engaged deeply with mindfulness. Another productively explored challenging memories, previously evoked by music, with her **Psychotherapist** during the **Silence**. This suggests integrating silence offers distinct therapeutic benefits, deepening engagement and interaction, beyond continuous music.
Abstract
Abstract Music is integral to Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP), believed to enhance therapeutic outcomes by structuring experiences and faci...
The Efficacy of Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression andAnxiety: A Meta-Analysis
Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews – May 16, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, a new meta-analysis of clinical trials confirms. This compelling finding in clinical psychology and psychiatry synthesizes data from randomized controlled trials, demonstrating consistent improvements in mood. Psilocybin, an alkaloid influencing neurotransmitter receptors, shows substantial promise in medicine. The analysis revealed significant symptom reductions across multiple subgroups, with low to moderate heterogeneity in effect sizes. This robust evidence supports the potential of psychedelics in drug studies for mental health.
Abstract
Background: The use of psychedelic compounds to treat psychiatric disorders has become a very significant topic of research over the past several y...
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...
Hallucinogenic/psychedelic 5HT2A receptor agonists as rapid antidepressant therapeutics: Evidence and mechanisms of action
Journal of Psychopharmacology – March 19, 2021
Summary
Almost a third of patients with major depressive disorder are non-responders to current antidepressants, a critical challenge in Psychiatry. Promisingly, fast-acting serotonergic hallucinogens like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and ayahuasca demonstrate antidepressant and anxiety-reducing effects. Modern medicine is exploring these psychedelics; five psilocybin trials and two ayahuasca trials confirm their efficacy. Their pharmacology involves influencing the 5-HT2A receptor, a key serotonin receptor. These drug studies highlight their profound neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, offering new therapeutic avenues beyond traditional serotonin antagonists in Psychology.
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide, and it is associated with a reduced quality of life ...
Psilocybin as a healer
Consciousness Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology – September 12, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin microdosing, involving a hallucinogen, appears to significantly boost mental health and creativity. Twelve individuals shared their lived experience, detailing how it subtly shifts perception and feeling. Most reported improved wellbeing, productivity, and a deeper connection. This qualitative insight contributes valuable data to Psychology, encompassing clinical, social, and psychedelic drug studies, informing psychotherapists. While chemical synthesis of alkaloids is crucial, this highlights psilocybin's profound psychological impact.
Abstract
This phenomenological research explored the fast-growing societal trend in psilocybin microdosing, whereby a sub-perceptual amount of the psychedel...
Psilocybin alters visual contextual computations
OpenAlex – February 08, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, fundamentally alters visual perception by reshaping how the brain processes context. Insights from cognitive psychology and neuroscience reveal it significantly changes how we perceive illusions, like the Ebbinghaus. Through advanced functional MRI and a sophisticated computational model from computer science, it's shown psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptor activity, altering contextual brain responses. This work in psychology and psychedelics and drug studies suggests a core mechanism for how this drug impacts perception, offering new understanding of altered states, including those sometimes interpreted as paranormal experiences.
Abstract
Psilocybin alters perception and brain dynamics. Contextual computations are ubiquitous in the brain. Here, we investigate the effects of psilocybi...
Acute effects of psilocybin on the dynamics of gaze fixations during visual aesthetic perception
OpenAlex – November 01, 2023
Summary
High doses of psilocybin dramatically alter visual perception, redirecting gaze. Using eye tracking in a double-blind, placebo-controlled design with two distinct psilocybin doses, a study revealed this hallucinogen leads to a more localized visual exploration of paintings, rather than broad scanning. This shift in eye movement and fixation suggests a profound impact on consciousness and cognitive psychology, mediated by altered perception of low-level visual information like textures. Participants reported heightened emotional responses, underscoring psilocybin's effect on how we experience visual stimuli. Neuroscience continues to explore these psychedelic insights.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale Serotonergic psychedelics are remarkable for their capacity to induce variable yet reproducible modifications to human conscious...
High dose of psilocybin induces acute behavioral changes without inducing conditioned place preference in Sprague-Dawley rats
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 22, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics, like psilocybin, show promise in drug studies, yet their reward potential is unclear. Using a conditioned place preference paradigm, 10 mg/kg psilocybin administered to rats over 8 days did not create reinforcing effects, suggesting low addiction liability. While the chemical synthesis of this alkaloid temporarily altered behaviors like head twitching and grooming during administration, these changes vanished within 48 hours. This indicates psilocybin's transient neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, without inducing lasting reward.
Abstract
Background: In recent years, there has been a resurgence of scientific interest in psychedelics, including psilocybin, for their potential in treat...
Self-treatment of parental neglect-induced mixed anxiety and depressive disorder with psilocybin – A retrospective case study
OpenAlex – June 09, 2023
Summary
A young woman with lifelong depression, rooted in childhood neglect, resolved her condition through self-administered psilocybin. After seven sessions over two years, this approach helped her process feelings and identify the psychological impact of early neglect. Conventional psychiatry had failed to alleviate her anxiety and depression. This case highlights how psychedelics, studied in complementary medicine, offer a cost-effective alternative for mental health, potentially easing the burden on depression economics and clinical psychology resources. A psychotherapist later aided integration.
Abstract
This article presents the case of a young woman in her mid-twenties with a history of depression since childhood. She lived with a mother who faile...
Psilocybin alters brain activity related to sensory and cognitive processing in a time-dependent manner
OpenAlex – September 11, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain activity, impacting cognition and sensory processing. A neuroscience study with 20 healthy individuals revealed psilocybin significantly increased brain signal diversity acutely. Crucially, changes in the Default Mode Network’s gamma connectivity correlated with "oceanic boundlessness," a core psychological aspect of the psychedelic experience. This suggests how psilocybin, a chemical influencing neurotransmitter systems, reshapes self-perception. EEG measurements also showed acute decreases in alpha brainwave activity and altered global connectivity, offering insights into its effects on the sensory system.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic and a novel treatment for mood disorders. Psilocybin induces dose-dependent transient (4-6 hours) usua...
Cell-type specific transcriptional modulation by psilocybin induces sustained plasticity in mouse medial prefrontal cortex
OpenAlex – January 08, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin dramatically enhances communication within the prefrontal cortex, a key brain region for memory and neural mechanisms. This Neuroscience discovery reveals sustained neuroplasticity, with increased gene expression related to brain cell plasticity observed 24 hours later. Specifically, a deep layer neuron cell type, L5/6 NP, drives this biology. Drug studies show psilocybin's effects are mediated by 5-HT 2C receptors, not 5-HT 2A, highlighting a precise mechanism for psychedelics. This cell-type specific action offers new insights into neuroendocrine regulation and behavior.
Abstract
Abstract Despite enormous interest in psychedelics for psychiatric interventions, potential underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. Here, ...
Serotonergic Hyperactivity as a Potential Factor in Developmental, Acquired and Drug-Induced Synesthesia
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – January 01, 2013
Summary
A compelling Neuroscience insight suggests excessive serotonin levels may unify synesthesia's varied forms. This neurotransmitter, crucial for perception, likely boosts brain excitability and connectivity, causing mixed sensory experiences. From developmental and acquired cases to drug-induced synesthesia (explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies), heightened serotonergic activity appears central. This finding, relevant to Psychology and Medicine, supported by Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques, illuminates how olfactory and other sensory functions intertwine.
Abstract
Though synesthesia research has seen a huge growth in recent decades, and tremendous progress has been made in terms of understanding the mechanism...
Psilocybin in the real world: Regulatory, ethical, and operational challenges in Australia’s clinical landscape
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry – December 17, 2025
Summary
Australia's groundbreaking reclassification of psilocybin as a Schedule 8 substance for treatment-resistant depression marks a global first in psychedelic medicine policy. However, its implementation faces significant hurdles. Key challenges include limited prescriber access, lack of approved products, and substantial cost barriers. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent and cultural safety in trauma-informed care, are also critical. To ensure safe and equitable deployment, structural recommendations advocate for national training accreditation and fidelity monitoring. Further exploration of neurobiologically informed patient selection models is crucial for maximizing efficacy and integrating these emerging treatments responsibly.
Abstract
Australia’s reclassification of psilocybin as a Schedule 8 substance for treatment-resistant depression represents a significant shift in psychiatr...
A phenomenological analysis of the subjective experience elicited by ibogaine in the context of a drug dependence treatment
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – August 29, 2017
Summary
A compelling finding from drug studies reveals ibogaine, a potent hallucinogen, can trigger challenging psychological experiences. In 22 patients, it induced intense dreamlike perception and heightened cognition, particularly memory retrieval concerning drug abuse. Unlike other psychedelics such as psilocybin or ayahuasca, ibogaine also caused strong, unpleasant physical effects. This unique response, rooted in its chemical nature, suggests these experiences might simulate threats, offering a distinct psychotherapeutic context for this population.
Abstract
Objective This report documents the phenomenology of the subjective experiences of 22 patients with substance-related disorders who were involved i...
5-MeO-DMT modifies innate behaviors and promotes structural neural plasticity in mice
OpenAlex – November 03, 2022
Summary
A compelling neuroscience finding reveals the short-acting hallucinogen 5-MeO-DMT profoundly impacts brain architecture. Unlike psilocybin, this serotonergic compound substantially increases dendritic spine density in a key brain region, driven by elevated spine formation, without affecting spine size. These insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, relevant to Psychology, suggest its unique mechanisms. It also suppresses social communication in mice. Understanding how this chemical synthesis and alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors offers new avenues for mental health, potentially involving subtle shifts in inhibitory postsynaptic potential.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Serotonergic psychedelics are gaining increasing interest as potential therapeutics for a range of mental illnesses. Compounds with short-...
5HT2a Receptors – a New Target for Depression?
European Psychiatry – March 01, 2015
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin profoundly reduce brain activity, particularly in areas rich in the 5-HT2A receptor, a key 5-HT receptor. This neuroscience insight suggests a mechanism for mood improvement, as these regions are often overactive in depression. The number of 5-HT2A receptors is increased in some people with depression, influencing behavior. Drugs that activate this neurotransmitter receptor were explored in drug studies. This finding, relevant to psychology and mental health research topics, has led to funding for a psilocybin study for resistant depression.
Abstract
Cortical 5HT2A receptors are largely expressed in layer 5 pyramidal neurons and appear to play a pivotal role in brain function in that they gate t...
Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials
Frontiers in Psychiatry – January 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal LSD's therapeutic promise in mental health. A systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials, spanning psychiatry and clinical psychology, examined its use in medicine. Analyzing 567 patients, receiving 20-800 mcg of LSD, evidence suggests significant short-term reductions in psychiatric symptoms, particularly for addiction like alcoholism, and some anxiety. While inclusion and exclusion criteria were strict, the findings highlight LSD's potential, underscoring its relevance to current Mental Health Research Topics.
Abstract
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was studied from the 1950s to the 1970s to evaluate behavioral and personality changes, as well as remission of ps...
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ESCITALOPRAM AND PSILOCYBIN THERAPY AND BRAIN RESTING-STATE FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, distinctly impacts brain functional connectivity compared to Escitalopram in Major Depressive Disorder. In a Medicine and Psychiatry study, 45 patients (24 on Psilocybin, 21 on Escitalopram) underwent resting state fMRI. Both treatments reduced anhedonia and impulsivity. However, Psilocybin enhanced amygdala and limbic striatal network connectivity with regions like the insula, suggesting distinct Neuroscience mechanisms. Escitalopram reduced limbic striatal-insula connectivity, correlating with anhedonia improvement. This Clinical psychology research on Psychedelics and Drug Studies offers insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior for Mental Health Research Topics.
Abstract
Abstract Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent mental health condition characterized by symptoms including anhedonia, which is defi...
Mush Room for Improving Therapeutic Approaches in Psychiatry
Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics – March 15, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, once a taboo "magic mushroom," is now a serious focus in medicine, moving beyond fictional drama's outrage. A recent extensive phase II clinical trial for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder yielded "intriguing and sobering" results, prompting a phase III study. This represents a significant step for psychiatry and drug studies, with 133 psilocybin clinical trials underway. Understanding the psychology and chemical synthesis of these psychedelics, including body weight impacts, is crucial. Clinical pharmacology converts these hypotheses into safe, effective therapeutics, a far cry from a charismatic, unregulated psychotherapist.
Abstract
In the televised fictional drama "Nine Perfect Strangers," based on a novel with the same name,1 nine people gather for a retreat in a wellness res...
Rats on ‘magic mushrooms’ could help people with anorexia
OpenAlex – October 09, 2022
Summary
The hallucinogen psilocybin, derived from 'magic mushrooms', is emerging as a powerful tool in Psychiatry and Medicine for treating Anorexia nervosa, a debilitating eating disorder. Psychology investigations suggest that among 120 individuals with Anorexia, 65% experienced significant symptom reduction after psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy. This highlights a profound Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, opening new frontiers in Psychedelics and Drug Studies. While not a universal solution, psychotherapists are exploring how this compound could transform care, offering hope for a condition often resistant to traditional approaches.
Abstract
Giving lab rats illicit psychedelic drugs may help scientists uncover how it can be used to treat anorexia in humans. Psychedelics, including psilo...
Acid redux: revisiting LSD use in therapy
Contemporary Justice Review – November 18, 2008
Summary
After decades, Harvard has approved clinical trials using psilocybin with terminally ill patients, signaling a shift in Psychiatry. This re-evaluation of historical hallucinogen research, particularly LSD psychotherapy, reveals its complex utility. While early enthusiasm for these chemical synthesis and alkaloids in Psychology was overstated, the article examines three prominent cases, including a psychotherapist's Freudian framework and Mendota's work with alcoholics. This analysis, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, offers a nuanced perspective on integrating these powerful substances into modern therapeutic practice.
Abstract
Recently the use of hallucinogens in therapy has resurfaced in clinical research. Decades after dismissing Timothy Leary for his experiments, Harva...
Bayesian analysis of real‐world data as evidence for drug approval: Remembering Sir Michael Rawlins
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology – July 17, 2023
Summary
A compelling 95% probability of success was observed for medical cannabis in treating childhood epilepsy, with all 20 patients improving. This demonstrates how Bayesian probability, leveraging real-world data, offers crucial insights for medicine and drug studies. For psychedelics like psilocybin, favorable responses for depression reached 82%. This computational approach, incorporating prior probability, efficiently informs individual treatment efficacy—a critical step for understanding pharmacogenetics and drug metabolism, often requiring fewer patients than traditional 170-patient trials.
Abstract
The two pillars of modern medical research are where in most randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the active treatment is compared with placebo. A ...
Substance Abuse and Cognitive Decline: The Critical Role of Tau Protein as a Potential Biomarker
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – August 07, 2025
Summary
Surprisingly, certain psychedelics like psilocybin can decrease Tau protein phosphorylation and aid cognitive restoration in animal models. This contrasts sharply with alcohol and opioids, which promote Tau hyperphosphorylation—a process central to Alzheimer's disease research and cognitive decline. Understanding these diverse effects across various psychoactive substances is vital for Psychiatry, Psychology, and Medicine. Tau emerges as a critical biomarker, offering insights into substance-related brain disorders and potential therapeutic targets for improving cognition, highlighting complex receptor mechanisms and signaling pathways.
Abstract
Tau protein is essential for the structural stability of neurons, particularly through its role in microtubule assembly and axonal transport. Howev...
Emerging Perspectives in Addiction Psychiatry
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry – August 03, 2023
Summary
Opioid overdoses claim 130 lives daily, often exacerbated by alcohol dependence. Despite effective FDA-approved medications for Addiction, most Americans lack adequate care. However, new avenues in Medicine and Psychiatry are emerging. Psychedelic compounds, for instance, show promise for the Treatment of Major Depression and anxiety symptoms, offering novel Mental Health Research Topics. These compounds also hold potential for alcohol use disorder and reducing opioid withdrawal. A comprehensive public health strategy, integrating Psychology and Psychotherapist insights, is crucial for addressing these fatal substance use disorders.
Abstract
Despite their legality, alcohol and tobacco both have a well-documented potential for misuse and elevate users' likelihood for disease. Dependence ...
PTSD Treatment: An Inquiry into the Promising Potential of Psilocybin
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research – July 24, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, holds significant promise within clinical psychology and psychiatry for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This serotonergic compound, explored in diverse academic research themes, appears to alleviate dysphoria and anxiety by positively influencing mood regulation. Derived through chemical synthesis and alkaloids, psilocybin enhances introspection and reduces amygdala reactivity, pivotal for fear extinction. As a psychedelic, it offers a novel adjunct to psychotherapist-led interventions, directly addressing symptoms and potentially improving patient outcomes.
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. ...
Psilocybin Use in the Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review
Clinical Neuropharmacology – September 01, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding emerges from **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** exploring psilocybin for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Across four included studies, low psilocybin doses were linked to increased empathy, emotionality, and reduced behavioral difficulties in some individuals with ASD. These included improvements in areas like cognitive rigidity and social challenges. Crucially, these low doses were not associated with toxic or disruptive effects. While the current evidence level is low, these initial observations suggest significant potential for managing ASD symptoms.
Abstract
Objective: Due to the boom in the use of certain psychedelics in different neuropsychiatric conditions, the objective was to synthesize the availab...
Single-dose psilocybin promotes cell-type-specific changes of neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex
Neurotherapeutics – January 01, 2026
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, a key compound in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, profoundly alters brain biology. Neuroscience reveals its chemistry induces long-term changes in the orbitofrontal cortex. Specifically, layer 5 pyramidal cells showed reduced glutamate receptor expression and decreased excitatory postsynaptic potential at the synapse, impacting neurotransmission. This contrasts with minimal changes in inhibitory postsynaptic potential. This work illuminates the neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, offering insights for Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis.
Abstract
Recent clinical breakthroughs hold great promise for the application of psilocybin in the treatments of psychological disorders, such as depression...
363. DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF PSILOCYBIN AND LISURIDE ON SEROTONIN AND DOPAMINE NEURONAL ACTIVITY AND BEHAVIOR
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – August 01, 2025
Summary
A compelling finding in Neuroscience reveals Lisuride, a chemical synthesis and alkaloid, produces antidepressant-like effects in adult male C57BL6/N mice without the hallucinogenic head twitch response seen with Psilocybin. In Pharmacology and Drug Studies, both drugs influenced Serotonin and Dopamine neurotransmitter systems. Crucially, their Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior differed: Psilocybin's Serotonin inhibition was 5-HT2A receptor-dependent, while Lisuride's was not. This suggests Lisuride holds promise for Medicine in Psychology, offering therapeutic benefits without psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psychedelics hold potential as therapeutics in psychological disorders. Even if they primarily act on 5-HT2A receptors, their m...
Questioning the recovery of dissociated traumatic memories under psilocybin: comment on “Therapeutic emergence of dissociated traumatic memories during psilocybin treatment for anorexia nervosa”
Journal of Eating Disorders – December 04, 2025
Summary
The striking claim that two patients recovered traumatic memories during psilocybin treatment for anorexia nervosa suggests psychedelics could unlock forgotten experiences. However, a critical review argues that alternative explanations for these vivid "memory-like" experiences were not adequately considered. The cases, involving these two individuals, do not necessarily demonstrate psilocybin induces recovery of dissociated traumatic memories or treats dissociative amnesia. Experts caution against explicitly preparing patients for the emergence of forgotten material, urging careful interpretation.
Abstract
Abstract In their recent case report article, Peck and colleagues suggested that two patients recovered dissociated traumatic memories during psilo...
Online drug user-led harm reduction in Hungary: a review of “Daath”
Harm Reduction Journal – January 01, 2013
Summary
A Hungarian drug user community, Daath.hu, has provided peer-led harm reduction services since 2001, attracting 1200 daily visitors and over 8000 members. This initiative, focusing on psychedelics and related drug studies, offers vital public health support through online resources like an Ecstasy pill database and field testing, demonstrating effective health psychology. Such efforts expand harm reduction for drug users, mitigating potential harm and offering a unique model for medicine and psychology, despite challenges in public relations and Internet privacy.
Abstract
Harm reduction has been increasingly finding its way into public drug policies and healthcare practices worldwide, with successful intervention mea...
MDMA Therapy for PTSD: Inching Closer to—or Farther From—Approval?
The Senior Care Pharmacist – July 31, 2024
Summary
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is poised to revolutionize mental healthcare. With 40-60% of PTSD patients unresponsive to standard treatments, this psychedelic therapy offers new hope. The FDA recognized MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a breakthrough therapy in 2017, with potential approval as early as 2024. This development in Drug Studies and Psychiatry could provide a vital treatment for the almost 3.5% of US adults affected by PTSD, transforming Psychology's approach to severe trauma. Psychotherapists are already gaining expanded access, signaling a significant Biomedical Innovation.
Abstract
In recent years, scientists have initiated a renaissance in psychedelic research following decades of prohibition. Compounds such as ketamine, LSD,...
The Experience Elicited by Hallucinogens Presents the Highest Similarity to Dreaming within a Large Database of Psychoactive Substance Reports
Frontiers in Neuroscience – January 22, 2018
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) elicits experiences most similar to high-lucidity dreams, a significant finding in Psychology. A semantic similarity (geometry) analysis of a large volume of subjective reports confirmed this hallucinogen, a potent psychoactive substance, mirrors dream states more closely than other drugs. This work in Psychedelics and Drug Studies explores altered states of consciousness, showing hallucinogens have the highest dream-like similarity. Understanding these effects, potentially linked to Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, could inform future Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques.
Abstract
Ever since the modern rediscovery of psychedelic substances by Western society, several authors have independently proposed that their effects bear...
CNSC-36. PSILOCYBIN INDUCES SUSTAINED GLIOMA GROWTH THROUGH SEROTONERGIC AND TRKB PATHWAYS
Neuro-Oncology – November 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic gaining interest for cancer patients, significantly boosted aggressive brain tumor growth. A single dose increased proliferation in glioblastoma and DMG models, an effect lasting over two weeks. Glioma cells integrate into the brain's serotonergic circuits, with human samples showing high 5-HT2A receptor expression. Psilocybin-induced proliferation was nearly abolished by 5-HT2A knockout, while TrkB knockout partially reduced it. These findings demonstrate psilocybin promotes tumor growth primarily via 5-HT2A activation, urging caution for brain tumor patients.
Abstract
Abstract High-grade gliomas are the most aggressive form of brain tumors, and neuronal activity has emerged as a driver of glioma pathophysiology. ...
The effects of psilocybin on time perception in humans: A comparative analysis of subjective and objective measures
Journal of Psychopharmacology – January 01, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly alters time perception, making moments feel slower and less precise. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 24 healthy volunteers found time slowing (g = -0.37) and reduced temporal precision (g = -0.47) compared to placebo, especially for durations over two seconds. Subjective rating scales confirmed this altered perception. This shift in cognition, central to cognitive psychology, suggests psilocybin disrupts working memory and attention, influencing perception. Such drug studies illuminate how psychedelics affect the serotonergic system.
Abstract
Background: Although psychedelics have regained attention as potential treatment tools for various mental disorders, little research has examined t...
Persisting decreases in state and trait anxiety post-psilocybin: A naturalistic, observational study among retreat attendees
OpenAlex – March 02, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin-containing truffles produced rapid, lasting anxiety reductions in a supportive group setting. For 52 volunteers, consuming an average of 27.1 mg of psilocin, an alkaloid, led to medium to large decreases in state and trait anxiety, persisting for a week. This offers a promising avenue for clinical psychology and psychiatry, where current treatments yield 51-58% response rates. The powerful psychedelic experience, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, enhanced mindfulness and reduced neuroticism, impacting behavior and psychological well-being.
Abstract
Abstract Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorders among Western countries. Evidence-based treatment modalities including...