Psychopharmacology

Caffeine may help prevent stress-induced depression-like symptoms in mice by protecting gut health and reducing inflammation. While more research is needed, the findings raise the possibility that everyday dietary habits could play a meaningful role in mental health

Researchers found that methylphenidate lowers impulsive choice behavior in men but not women. The effect was associated with the structural integrity of specific white matter tracts in the brain, highlighting potential sex-based differences in drug response.

MDMA-assisted therapy shows promise for trauma, but its effects vary. Now, a study in JAMA Network Open offers a solution: brain scans that measure reactivity to unconscious threat cues can identify individuals most likely to respond positively to the treatment.

After heroin exposure and abstinence, mice showed reduced prefrontal brain activity during social interaction but heightened responses to drug-related cues, suggesting heroin disrupts normal brain function in ways that may contribute to social withdrawal and relapse risk.

Researchers have discovered that long-term psychostimulant use in adults with ADHD is associated with increased brain surface complexity, yet these anatomical differences appear unrelated to clinical outcomes, according to a study using high-resolution MRI data from UCLA.

A series of recent studies has begun to map the specific neural, cognitive, and emotional processes that psychedelics influence—often in ways that challenge long-held assumptions

New research shows a single low, non-anesthetic dose of ketamine revived pleasure seeking in chronically stressed mice by restoring weakened excitatory synapses onto nucleus accumbens dopamine D1 neurons, pinpointing a circuit mechanism for the drug’s rapid antidepressant effect.

Are challenging ayahuasca experiences always harmful? Not necessarily, finds a new global survey. While some effects predict poorer mental health, others like visual distortions are linked to positive outcomes, highlighting the crucial role of context and individual vulnerability.

Nineteen patients with drug-resistant epilepsy experienced seizure freedom after cannabis oil treatment, with a median seizure-free duration of 245 days. Five remained seizure-free for over a year, and most reported improved quality of life and reduced seizure frequency.

A recent study found that a DMT/harmine formulation blurs the brain’s distinction between self and other faces, disrupting self-referential processing while preserving recognition of familiar faces, suggesting a neural basis for psychedelic-induced ego dissolution.

Researchers found that MDMA reduces anxiety and enhances social behavior in zebrafish by altering key neurochemical systems. The drug suppressed serotonin signaling, boosted oxytocin receptor expression, and modulated brain signaling proteins involved in emotional regulation.

A nationwide Finnish study shows that children with ADHD stay on medication for over three years on average. Yet, controlled safety data for these medications in children exists for only one year, highlighting a gap in long-term evidence.

A new study suggests that regular users of psychedelics may process self-related thoughts differently at both psychological and brain levels, revealing altered patterns of brain activity during self-reflection compared to non-users who intend to try psychedelics.

Researchers found that a standardized extract of ashwagandha improved memory, attention, and spatial reasoning in adults with mild cognitive impairment, outperforming a placebo in a two-month clinical trial with no reported side effects.

A new study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs suggests that while awe can be transformative during ayahuasca retreats, there’s a limit. Experiences marked by excessive vastness were linked to lower well-being, challenging assumptions about awe’s universal benefits.