Psychopharmacology

By analyzing the brain scans of intoxicated humans and rats, scientists have validated a new mathematical tool that successfully tracks the brain’s inhibitory system. This non-invasive measure could help researchers better understand various mental health conditions.

A new genetic study reveals that youth with a higher inherited risk for cannabis addiction show altered frontal brain structure. The variations appear even in teenagers who have never used marijuana, offering new insights into adolescent brain development.

College students with a higher risk for bipolar disorders report more life disruptions from cannabis use. Meanwhile, those who naturally experience higher levels of happiness tend to consume the drug less frequently.

A new computer simulation based on brain scans shows how LSD alters the balance of excitement and inhibition in specific neural circuits. These chemical changes silence sensory pathways and boost abstract thought, unifying the brain into a highly synchronized state.

Patients with severe mental health conditions who drink three to four cups of coffee daily may possess cells that appear roughly five years younger. A new study links moderate coffee intake to longer telomeres, the protective caps on human chromosomes.

As cannabis use grows among older adults, so do concerns about memory loss. However, a new study found that prior or occasional cannabis use is not associated with faster cognitive decline or a higher risk of dementia.

Could psychedelics help prevent migraines? A new study of identical twins suggests that men who use substances like psilocybin and LSD have nearly three times lower odds of experiencing migraines compared to their twin brothers who don't.

In recent FDA Phase 2 trials, a single dose of the experimental psychedelic luvesilocin eliminated postpartum depression symptoms in 71% of patients within seven days. The breakthrough medication will enter Phase 3 trials by late 2026.

New research reveals that chronic alcohol consumption rewires a key decision-making brain circuit in opposite ways, depending on whether the brain is burdened by Alzheimer's-related amyloid plaques or tau tangles.

A botanical extract derived from American ginseng can boost the brain's cellular waste disposal system, protecting synapses from age-related damage. In a recent rat study, the supplement successfully reversed cognitive decline and improved learning and memory.

Consuming two to three cups of coffee a day is associated with a lower risk of developing mood and stress disorders. A massive observational study suggests this mental health benefit disappears at higher levels of daily coffee consumption.

Despite its popularity, a new meta-analysis shows that CBD provides no meaningful benefit for patients with psychosis. Scientists note the treatment is well-tolerated but fails to outperform placebos in managing hallucinations, delusions, or cognitive issues.

A new review of nearly 50 studies suggests classic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD can cause lasting personality changes. Research links the use of these substances to long-term increases in openness and significant drops in neuroticism.

A single dose of psilocybin reduces the drive to seek out rewards by increasing the activity of inhibitory brain cells. These findings help explain how psychedelics might induce long-lasting changes in brain circuits to treat substance use disorders.

Psilocybin could help patients with chronic cluster headaches sleep better, according to a recent study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Researchers also noted subtle shifts in brain microstructure that tend to accompany these improvements in rest.