Psychedelics and the thalamocortical system: A scoping review
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior July 9, 2026 Sofía Villalba, Agustín Martínez Christensen, Lucia di Costanzo et al.
Psychedelics show promise as therapeutic interventions for depression, terminal illnesses, substance use disorder, neurodegenerative diseases, trauma, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research on psychedelics has advanced understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms behind the 'psychedelic state of consciousness' and both physiological and pathological thalamocortical functioning. Several psychiatric conditions—such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism—involve alterations in the thalamocortical system, so deeper understanding of thalamic function could significantly impact psychedelic research and biological psychiatry. This scoping review (using the PRISMA method) synthesizes preclinical and clinical evidence on effects of psychedelics (NMDA receptor antagonists, serotonin 2A receptor agonists, and mixed-pharmacology compounds like iboga alkaloids) on the thalamocortical system, suggesting its importance for clinical practice and understanding psychedelic neurobiology.