Psychopharmacology

Experiencing severe social defeat during adolescence typically leads to anxiety and social avoidance. However, a new study reveals that treating mice with ketamine prior to stressful events effectively blocks these negative behavioral changes.

A recent review of animal studies suggests that caffeine blocks specific cellular receptors to reduce neuroinflammation. This immune-calming effect may help alleviate behavioral symptoms associated with mood disorders.

New research reveals how ayahuasca alters brain waves to induce vivid, spontaneous thoughts. A simple brain recording before consumption can even predict how intensely a person will experience the brew's physical and emotional effects.

A medication already approved for weight loss and diabetes may alter the brain's reward system to suppress the urge to drink. A new rodent study shows tirzepatide effectively cuts alcohol intake and blocks relapse-like behaviors.

New research shows that while impulsivity and neuroticism both increase the risk of teen alcohol use, they stem from almost entirely different brain networks. This highlights how multiple biological pathways can lead to risky behavior.

Researchers have identified a self-guided therapeutic process induced by magnesium-ibogaine. Published in npj Mental Health Research, the study sheds light on how veterans with brain injuries revisit traumatic memories to achieve psychological and cognitive healing.

A new longitudinal study suggests that drinking larger amounts per occasion is linked to slightly higher future anxiety. However, frequent, low-quantity consumption is associated with lower anxiety levels in adults over 51.

Scientists have found evidence that LSD inhibits status epilepticus and mortality in mice. The preliminary research suggests the drug works by desynchronizing brain activity.

Chronic microdosing of psilocybin could fight obesity and diabetes without the "trip." Researchers discovered that non-hallucinogenic doses reduced weight gain and restored insulin sensitivity in mice by targeting specific receptors in the liver.

A new study published in Translational Psychiatry finds that chronic cannabis use is associated with better decision-making in people with bipolar disorder, contrasting with the cognitive impairment typically observed in healthy users.

Adolescents who consume sugary beverages every day are more likely to report cognitive struggles. A recent analysis suggests that the resulting lack of sleep is a primary factor connecting sugary drinks to reduced mental clarity.

A new study finds that while severe childhood trauma often leads to early alcoholism, specific genetic variants are more closely linked to the disorder developing later in life.

New evidence indicates that methamphetamine makes difficult tasks feel less burdensome, especially for naturally less motivated people. This change in behavior happens independently of the pleasurable high that the drug often produces.

A study in European Neuropsychopharmacology finds that ayahuasca helps rats learn that a previously dangerous environment is safe. This effect appears to rely on BDNF signaling within the infralimbic cortex, suggesting a potential biological pathway for treating trauma.

A new systematic review suggests that recreational ecstasy users suffer from verbal memory impairments that do not improve even after months or years of quitting the drug.