Developmental stuttering involves speech-motor disruptions linked to metabolic and network anomalies in the brain, particularly in the default mode and social-cognitive networks. These networks also influence social anxiety and avoidance, which often accompany persistent stuttering. Psychedelic compounds can modify brain metabolism and connectivity in these networks and have shown clinical benefits for conditions like depression and PTSD that share features such as rumination and social anxiety. Although no controlled trials have been conducted, anecdotal reports suggest psychedelics might alleviate stuttering and its associated symptoms. The authors argue that psychedelics warrant investigation in randomized clinical trials for developmental stuttering.
Stuttering affects social, occupational, and educational functioning. Traditional therapies have limited effectiveness, and no FDA-approved pharmaceutical treatments exist. Interest in classic psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD) for conditions like anxiety and depression has grown, but their effects on stuttering were unexplored. This analysis of 114 Reddit posts from self-identified stutterers who used psychedelics found that 74.0% reported positive short-term effects, including reduced stuttering and anxiety. However, 9.6% reported negative effects, 4.8% mixed, and 11.6% neutral. The uncontrolled setting and potential adverse health effects require caution; results do not encourage use but suggest future controlled research.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) appears to influence brain function more than structure, with consistent enhancement of activity and connectivity in networks that support emotion regulation, self-referential processing, and attention. A narrative review of 27 studies (9 structural MRI, 10 neural activation, 11 functional connectivity) found that structural MRI findings were inconsistent, with most studies reporting no significant gray matter changes, though small studies noted modest increases in hippocampal and amygdala volume. In contrast, fMRI consistently demonstrated functional changes, including increased activity in the superior parietal lobule, posterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal regions, and enhanced coupling between the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Findings suggest improved top-down regulation of emotion, though study heterogeneity limits conclusions.