Research Square
February 27, 2026
Randi Brown, Kenneth Shinozuka, Irakli Kaloiani et al.
Abstract The acute effects of psychedelic medicines include shifts in perception and awareness that can often include mystical or spiritual elements. Research suggests that these experiences can also extend into more persisting changes in spirituality, yet this area is underexplored. This study examined the effects of psychedelic experiences on spiritual beliefs using a survey of N = 151 people...
iScience
February 21, 2026
Andrew Geoly, John P. Coetzee, Derrick Matthew Buchanan et al.
= 22). Longitudinal analyses assessed cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and predicted brain age (pBA), estimated from T1 scans. pBA was significantly reduced at 1 month relative to baseline (-1.3 years). Cortical thickness analysis revealed post-treatment increases in 11 regions. Subcortical analyses revealed significant volumetric expansion in 8 regions. Magnesium-ibogaine therapy was...
Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
February 1, 2026
Malvika Sridhar, Azeezat Azeez, Andrew Geoly et al.
BackgroundIbogaine was recently found to result in significant functional improvements in treating the sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among Special Operations Forces veterans (SOVs). In the current study, we used multimodal neuroimaging to elucidate the neural correlates of ibogaine in 30 male SOVs who received ibogaine treatment.MethodsArterial spin labeling and blood oxygen...
npj Mental Health Research
January 31, 2026
Clayton Olash, Derrick Matthew Buchanan, Randi Brown et al.
1 citation
Magnesium-ibogaine, a formulation combining ibogaine with pre- and post-treatment magnesium, was recently found to yield rapid clinical improvements in U.S. Special Operations veterans with TBI and PTSD. Yet, its therapeutic phenomenology during such healing is unknown. We analyzed post-session narratives from 30 male veterans who, after a single open-label magnesium-ibogaine treatment,...
Research Square
December 17, 2025
Camarin E. Rolle, Nolan Williams, Afik Faerman et al.
Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in chronic functional disability and is associated with persistent psychiatric symptoms, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Ibogaine, an oneirogenic alkaloid with unique pharmacological properties, has shown initial promise as a potential treatment for TBI-related sequelae. We previously observed large...
Journal of Affective Disorders
November 18, 2025
Randi Brown, Jennifer I. Lissemore, Kenneth Shinozuka et al.
1 citation
Ibogaine is an atypical psychedelic that evokes unique subjective effects, including mystical experiences. Mystical experiences have shown a mediating effect on clinical improvements following treatment with several psychedelic substances; however, the relationship between mystical experiences and clinical outcomes following ibogaine remains unclear. We examined the association between mystical...
Nature Medicine
February 1, 2024
Kirsten Cherian, Jackob N. Keynan, Lauren Anker et al.
66 citations
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability. Sequelae can include functional impairments and psychiatric syndromes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans (SOVs) may be at an elevated risk for these complications, leading some to seek underexplored treatment alternatives such as the oneirogen ibogaine, a...
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
November 1, 2023
Kirsten Cherian, Afik Faerman, Lauren Anker et al.
Objective: To determine the effects of the non-classic psychedelic, ibogaine, on cognitive functioning. Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid derived from the Tabernanthe Iboga plant family, indigenous to Africa, and traditionally used in spiritual and healing ceremonies. Ibogaine has primarily been studied with respect to its clinical efficacy in reducing substance addiction. There are, however,...
Sleep
May 1, 2023
Afik Faerman, Lauren Anker, Kirsten Cherian et al.
5 citations
Abstract Introduction Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid traditionally used in spiritual and healing rites in some African cultures. Ibogaine is primarily studied in the context of substance dependence, but indications suggest it may enhance recovery from trauma. Here, we investigated the effects of ibogaine treatment for multisystem effects of exposure to repeated blasts and combat on...