Psychedelic Drugs

People who were more resilient before an ayahuasca retreat reported somewhat more intense challenging experiences, a study of retreat guests in Costa Rica and Peru finds. For them, those challenges were also more closely tied to searching for meaning.

A study in rats suggests MDMA can prevent the rise in alcohol intake that follows trauma-like stress, but only in animals genetically predisposed to drink heavily. The effect did not appear to depend on changes in fear.

By mapping brain activity like a moving weather system, researchers found that psychedelics consistently reduce the upward flow of sensory information into higher-order brain regions, offering new biological clues into how these drugs alter human consciousness.

A clinical trial found that combining specialized meaning reconstruction therapy with the psychedelic brew ayahuasca helped bereaved individuals experience greater reductions in severe grief symptoms compared to those receiving therapy alone.

A groundbreaking brain imaging study in awake rats reveals that the psychedelic mescaline uniquely alters brain function. The drug reduces cerebellum activity while boosting global connectivity, shifting how the brain processes rewards and filters sensory information.

A new study reveals that psilocybin and standard antidepressants both reduce the brain's tendency to misinterpret facial expressions as negative. The research suggests these two distinct treatments share a common cognitive effect in the fight against depression.

Could a compound found in magic mushrooms prevent one of chemotherapy’s worst side effects? New preclinical research shows that prophylactic psilocybin protects sensory nerves from toxic cancer drugs, opening the door for upcoming clinical trials in humans.

A new study suggests that consuming psilocin directly—rather than its precursor, psilocybin—provides a similar psychedelic experience with fewer side effects. Researchers also found that taking the drug under the tongue produced emotional breakthroughs despite milder effects.

Psilocin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, promotes the rapid growth of neural connections in laboratory settings. A new study reveals how these structural changes match the effects of established psychiatric drugs like ketamine and lithium.

Two new studies suggest psychedelic compounds could help treat cocaine addiction. A human trial found psilocybin combined with therapy reduced cocaine use, while an animal study indicated that environmental support is needed to prevent long-term relapse.

German college students who tried psychedelics for the first time showed slight increases in openness over a year. However, researchers say these minor personality shifts may simply reflect broader novelty-seeking behavior rather than the drugs themselves.

A new study reveals that the psychedelic drug DMT pushes brain waves into a highly random, structureless state. This biological shift directly correlates with the intense sensation of ego dissolution, shedding light on how human consciousness is maintained.

A small study in mice reveals that administering a psychedelic compound before an immune challenge can prevent severe brain inflammation. The findings suggest these drugs might prime the nervous system to resist biological stress and disease.