Harriet de Wit: What can we learn about behavior and brain processes by studying psychoactive drugs in humans? How can we harmonize behavioral research in humans and nonhuman species?
Psychedelics August 26, 2025 Harriet de Wit
This Genomic Press Interview profiles Professor Harriet de Wit, a psychopharmacology researcher at the University of Chicago who has studied psychoactive drugs for 45 years. Her work has demonstrated that MDMA enhances feelings of social connectedness during interpersonal interactions, findings with implications for PTSD treatment and psychotherapy. She has also researched microdosing, place preference procedures, and drug-induced neural actions, bridging animal and human studies. The interview notes her continuous NIH funding for over 42 years and her role as a consultant to author Michael Pollan.