Adolescents who completed a 12-week meditation training program showed decreases in gray matter volume in the left posterior insula, left thalamus, and left putamen, brain regions involved in physical and emotional awareness. No significant changes occurred during a control period before training. These findings differ from studies in adults, where meditation is typically associated with increased gray matter, suggesting the adolescent brain may respond differently to meditation.
A history of childhood trauma does not increase the risk of having a challenging experience during acute ayahuasca effects, nor does it affect posttraumatic growth afterward. In a survey of 231 adults (average age 40, 48% women), those with childhood trauma histories reported no more adverse or challenging experiences during ayahuasca use than those without such histories. Additionally, the degree of challenge during the acute experience was not linked to greater ayahuasca-related posttraumatic growth. These findings suggest that childhood trauma exposure may not carry the same risk for poor treatment response to ayahuasca as it does for other interventions.
A 12-week mindfulness-based intervention (TARA) in healthy adolescents aged 14–18 increased white matter connectivity in interoceptive brain networks, including the right insula and right putamen. These brain changes were linked to improved sleep quality and emotional well-being. The intervention was delivered remotely and showed high feasibility and safety. The TARA group, but not controls, had significantly better sleep quality and increased insula node strength associated with emotional well-being. A white matter interoception network strengthened after TARA. The findings suggest TARA may improve psychological health in adolescents by enhancing structural connectivity in interoceptive regions.
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, combined with psychotherapeutic support, produced rapid antidepressant effects in people with moderate to severe recurrent major depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms, measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, improved significantly more in the psilocybin group than in the placebo group by day 8, with benefits lasting through day 42 but not at one year. Self-reported depressive symptoms showed improvement as early as day 2 and persisted for over three months. The treatment was generally well tolerated, though two participants experienced persistent severe anxiety requiring medical attention. These findings suggest psilocybin may offer a rapid and relatively durable antidepressant effect.