Front Psychiatry
March 1, 2023
Karl Kristjan Kaup, Madis Vasser, Kadi Tulver et al.
22 citations
An open-label feasibility study tested whether a virtual reality simulation designed to replicate aspects of the psychedelic experience could be used as a therapeutic tool. Participants reported that the VR experience produced subjective effects resembling those of psychedelics, including altered perception and a sense of oceanic boundlessness. The findings suggest that VR-based psychedelic replications are feasible and acceptable, and may offer a scalable, non-pharmacological approach for mental health interventions. The study did not assess clinical outcomes, but participants showed reduced negative affect after the session. The authors indicate that further controlled research is needed to determine therapeutic efficacy.
November 26, 2021
Kadi Tulver, Karl Kristjan Kaup, Ruben Laukkonen et al.
16 citations
preprint
Insight, the sudden understanding of a solution or idea, is not only central to creative problem-solving but also plays a key role in psychotherapy, meditation, the emergence of delusions in schizophrenia, and the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. This integrative review draws on literature from multiple fields to examine the event of insight, its prerequisites, and its consequences. It highlights commonalities and differences across these domains, aiming to bridge gaps between disparate research traditions and inspire interdisciplinary efforts to understand this core cognitive process.
Frontiers in psychiatry
January 1, 2023
Karl Kristjan Kaup, Madis Vasser, Kadi Tulver et al.
3 citations
correction
No Summary
Journal of Psychopharmacology
February 16, 2026
Marten Kase, Karl Kristjan Kaup, Jaan Aru
1 citation
A systematic review of 32 placebo-controlled studies from 1990 to 2025 examined the acute and post-acute effects of LSD, DMT, and psilocybin on cognitive and psychological functions. Psychedelics tended to enhance emotional empathy but had no effect on cognitive empathy. Effects on memory varied by task and timing, with some impairments, enhancements, or no change. Dose-dependent impairments occurred in reaction time, attention, and inhibition tasks, though some studies found no effects. Recognition of negative stimuli was impaired under acute effects. Findings on cognitive flexibility were mixed. Many studies had small samples, and finding a reliable placebo is challenging due to psychedelics' unique subjective effects.