Psychedelic Drugs

A new study comparing near-death experiences with high-dose DMT trips finds striking similarities — and surprising differences — in what people see and feel. The research sheds light on how the brain might shape extraordinary states of consciousness.

New research suggests that psychedelics may offer more than momentary insight—they tend to leave people with a stronger sense of meaning in life. Across three studies, participants reported lasting increases in existential fulfillment after psychedelic experiences.

High openness nearly doubled the odds of reporting lasting positive changes from a psychedelic trip, while high neuroticism raised the odds of negative aftereffects by 56%, according to new research examining the role of the Big Five personality traits.

A groundbreaking study has found that psilocybin can profoundly affect religious leaders, enhancing their spiritual lives and emotional well-being. Six months after two guided sessions, clergy from major world religions reported lasting positive changes in faith, mood, and leadership effectiveness.

A new study explores how psychedelic experiences may influence identity and mental health among LGBTQIA+ individuals. Survey data suggest that these substances are linked to greater self-acceptance, reduced psychological distress, and meaningful changes in gender and sexual identity exploration.

Unlike other drug users, individuals who used psychedelics and cannabis during the pandemic saw average improvements in anxiety and depression, according to a UK-based longitudinal study that tracked mental health before and after COVID-19 restrictions.

Scientists have discovered that psilocybin may have powerful anti-aging properties. New research provides the first experimental evidence that the compound from psychedelic mushrooms extends survival in aged mice and significantly delays the natural aging process in human cells.

Researchers have discovered that psilocybin—but not ketamine—triggers widespread changes in neuropeptide-related genes in the rat hypothalamus. These findings may help explain how psychedelics influence mood, appetite, and stress responses through deep brain systems.

People under the influence of psilocybin perform more slowly on tasks measuring attention and executive function. But a new study suggests the problem might not be the drug—it might be the traditional lab tests used to assess cognition.

Military veterans who attended psilocybin or ayahuasca retreats showed improvements in measures of depression, PTSD, anxiety, and reintegration into civilian life compared to their baseline assessments.

MDMA-assisted therapy shows promise for trauma, but its effects vary. Now, a study in JAMA Network Open offers a solution: brain scans that measure reactivity to unconscious threat cues can identify individuals most likely to respond positively to the treatment.

A series of recent studies has begun to map the specific neural, cognitive, and emotional processes that psychedelics influence—often in ways that challenge long-held assumptions

Are challenging ayahuasca experiences always harmful? Not necessarily, finds a new global survey. While some effects predict poorer mental health, others like visual distortions are linked to positive outcomes, highlighting the crucial role of context and individual vulnerability.

A recent study found that a DMT/harmine formulation blurs the brain’s distinction between self and other faces, disrupting self-referential processing while preserving recognition of familiar faces, suggesting a neural basis for psychedelic-induced ego dissolution.

Researchers found that MDMA reduces anxiety and enhances social behavior in zebrafish by altering key neurochemical systems. The drug suppressed serotonin signaling, boosted oxytocin receptor expression, and modulated brain signaling proteins involved in emotional regulation.