Psychedelic Drugs

Psilocybin rapidly increases the expression of several genes related to neuroplasticity in the rat brain, according to new research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. The new findings might help explain the underlying neurobiological mechanisms responsible for long-lasting changes associated...

While the drug MDMA makes people feel closer to others, it does not appear to enhance pro-social behavior, according to a new double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. MDMA, the drug popularly known as ecstasy, is often...

A study published in Psychopharmacology suggests that people may turn to microdosing with psychedelics in an attempt to improve their mental health. According to most self-reports, these attempts may be effective. Interest in psychedelic drugs as a potential treatment option...

People who take microdoses of psychedelic drugs consistently report that it results in improved mood and creativity, while having few side effects, according to new research published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Study author Rotem Petranker, director of the Canadian...

New research suggests that feelings of awe from psychedelic drugs can positively affect narcissistic personality traits. The study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, found that psychedelic-occasioned experiences of awe are linked to increased feelings of connectedness and empathy, which in...

Scientists in Finland are taking a closer look the relationship between psychedelic substances and mystical experiences. In new research published in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, researchers show that a Finnish version of a common assessment of subjective psychedelic effects can...

New research recently published in Psychopharmacology provides evidence that inert placebo pills can induce psychedelic-like effects, including perceptual alterations. The findings highlight the importance of expectations and context when ingesting psychedelic substances. The study also sheds some light on the...

A study published in Scientific Reports found that first-time users of psychoactive brew ayahuasca showed decreases in psychopathology and depression one month and six months later. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic beverage traditionally used by Amazonian tribes but that has more...

A new study analyzed over 2,500 reported encounters with autonomous entities after taking “breakthrough” doses of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The findings were published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. DMT is a Schedule 1 psychedelic drug known to produce lucidity, hallucinations, time...

New research provides preliminary evidence that psychedelic drugs can improve mental health by making individuals more accepting of distressing experiences. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, adds to a growing body of literature that indicates using substances like psilocybin...

Consuming a single dose of the psychedelic brew ayahuasca can result in lasting changes in higher-order cognitive brain networks, according to a new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Ayahuasca, a concoction used for centuries by indigenous Amazon tribes,...

A recent study published in Chronic Stress found support for a psychedelic treatment not yet approved in the United States. US Special Operations Forces (SOF) Veterans treated with ibogaine and 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) showed large reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression,...

A new study from the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine provides insight into the psychoactive effects that distinguish psilocybin from other hallucinogenic substances. The findings suggest that feelings of spiritual and/or psychological...

Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms”. A recent meta-analysis published in Psychiatry Research provides tentative support for psilocybin in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Researchers have made important advancements when it comes to the treatment...

New research provides evidence that the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms can affect brain processes related to emotional functioning long after the substance has left one's body. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, shed new light on the long-term...