Psychedelic Drugs

A new study has found that naturalistic psychedelic use is associated with specific psychological strengths, suggesting that psychedelics can have positive effects on mental well-being compared to other substances like cannabis and alcohol. The findings, published in the International Journal...

A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology provides new insight into how the psychedelic drug LSD influences the way different brain regions communicate. The findings suggest that LSD disrupts the brain's gatekeeping process, leading to increased information flow and altered perception.

The psychedelic substances 5-MeO-DMT causes a long-lasting increase in the number of tiny protrusions called dendritic spines in the brain, according to new research published in Neuropsychopharmacology. The study, which was conducted on mice, sheds light on the behavioral and...

New research published in iScience provides unique insights into how psilocybin alters brain activity during psychedelic experiences. The findings suggest that while the overall activity of the brain becomes more chaotic during the psychedelic state, the brain's ability to maintain...

Scientists have identified specific patterns of brain network reconfigurations that occur when people take both classical and non-classical psychedelic drugs. Their findings, published in NeuroImage, shed new light on how psychedelics affect the brain and consciousness.

Scientists are interested in studying psychedelic substances because they have the potential to alter perception, cognition, and mood in ways that may be beneficial for treating a variety of mental health conditions. Some studies suggest that certain psychedelics may have...

People who use psychedelic drugs for entheogenic purposes tend to also have heightened spiritual development, according to new research published in the Journal of Psychedelic Studies. The new findings provide insight into how entheogenic drug use is related to spirituality...

The psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) make people learn faster when receiving feedback and enhances exploratory behavior, according to new research published in Psychological Medicine. The findings could help shed light on the underlying cognitive mechanisms behind the potential...

It is widely known that doing drugs can cause neurological impairments, but it can be difficult to know why. A study published in NeuroImage: Clinical provides evidence that chronic MDMA may not cause white matter lesions that are seen from...

People who use psychedelic substances in an attempt to self-treat their mental health tend to report mild-to-moderate positive outcomes, according to new research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. But there were more negative effects reported by these individuals than...

In people with advanced cancer, psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA may significantly reduce the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. Psychedelic sessions might have an advantage over traditional prescription antidepressants for patients with cancer-related depression or anxiety because...

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur following exposure to a traumatic or repeated stressful events. It is commonly experienced by military veterans and first responders. While available treatments may not work for everyone, recent...

Researchers at the University of Tartu in Estonia have developed a virtual reality (VR) experience that seeks to simulate the subjective effects of psychedelic drugs. They hope that replicating psychedelic experiences within VR will produce similar therapeutic benefits to psychedelic-assisted...

Research recently published in Death Studies sheds light on the relationship between increased subjective well-being after psychedelic use and potential reductions in death anxiety. The findings indicate that a reduction in death anxiety was related to how impactful reports of...