Psychopharmacology

Psilocybin’s effects are not uniform across different physiological conditions. A study of female mice reveals that exercise and diet drastically alter how the drug influences social interactions and inflammatory signaling.

A new study found that the physical stress of cold water immersion did not release fat-stored THC back into the blood. This suggests that moderate stress is unlikely to cause unexpected intoxication or failed drug tests.

New imaging reveals that drinking disrupts long-distance neural communication. As brain activity moves into isolated clusters, subjective feelings of intoxication increase.

Researchers found that a single dose of psilocybin alters the electrical properties of brain cells for months. This functional plasticity, rather than structural growth, may explain why psychedelic therapy offers enduring relief from depression.

Researchers found that dynorphin-expressing neurons in the mouse amygdala light up significantly more when drinking alcohol compared to other liquids. This unique brain signature could help explain the mechanisms behind excessive alcohol consumption.

A new study suggests a compound in cannabis could protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that treating rats with cannabidiol prevented memory loss and inflammation by activating specific brain receptors.

Scientists have linked the subjective intensity of ibogaine trips to tangible recovery in veterans. Those who felt a sense of unity and sacredness showed larger drops in trauma symptoms and slower brain wave frequencies one month later.

Swapping a beer for a cannabis drink could reduce alcohol-related harms. New research indicates that consumers of infused beverages are likely to use them as substitutes, resulting in fewer weekly drinks and less bingeing.

A new longitudinal analysis suggests that specific PTSD symptoms, particularly hyperarousal, drive hazardous drinking in military reservists. The findings indicate that male soldiers are uniquely at risk for alcohol problems stemming from physiological agitation.

A new algorithm analyzes electrical activity in the brain to forecast whether standard depression drugs will work, potentially ending the trial-and-error approach to mental health treatment.

A new study using machine learning reveals that adolescent mice with a sweet tooth and lower sociability are more likely to prefer alcohol. Interestingly, these behavioral patterns did not predict alcohol preference in adult mice.

Taking tiny amounts of psilocybin helps the brain bypass conventional associations to reach more original solutions, according to a robust analysis of three double-blind clinical trials.

A new study reveals that nitrous oxide exposure can reverse the suppression of new neuron growth in the hippocampus. This treatment effectively reduced anxiety-like behaviors in a rat model of PTSD.

A recent study suggests MDMA-assisted therapy may provide lasting relief for major depressive disorder. Participants maintained significant symptom reductions several months after treatment concluded.

A comprehensive new study challenges the popular productivity trend, finding that taking small amounts of magic mushrooms offers no measurable improvements in focus, memory, or mood compared to a placebo.