Research SquareJanuary 5, 2026Noor Tasnim, Alana Hutchinson, Daphne Gyamfi et al.
preprint
Flow is a psychological state of deep immersion and engagement associated with enhanced performance and well-being, yet its neural correlates remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether flow is experienced during Memphis Jookin', a street dance style originating in Memphis, Tennessee, and examined its behavioral and neurophysiological signatures. Professional Memphis Jookers (N = 6)...
Vibration-based therapies are understudied but promising methods for alleviating psychiatric symptoms, particularly when paired with behavioral practices. The potential neuroplastic changes associated with a novel neurostimulation method, sternal vibration, and associations with clinical change remain unknown. We examined effects of sternal vibration paired with mindfulness meditation on change...
Research SquareDecember 18, 2025Alejo Acuña, Federico Billeri, Valentino Totaro et al.
preprint
Abstract Background: Psychedelics have emerged as powerful modulators of neural plasticity, yet whether the atypical psychedelic ibogaine can enhance plasticity remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether a single administration of ibogaine can reinstate juvenile-like experience-dependent plasticity in the adult mouse visual cortex, a canonical model for studying neuroplasticity....
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...
Research SquareDecember 12, 2025Fatiha Shannon, Cass Dykeman
preprint
Abstract Today, mental health is standing on a threshold of a new frontier—one that lies not just in the physical and neurobiological realms but also in the interflow of language and meaning making. While the current revival of psychedelic research is focused primarily on pilot and experimental studies to examine the potential therapeutic index of psychedelics, one cannot ignore how this...
Abstract Early maladaptive schemas (EMS) are highly prevalent in patients seeking psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and correlate strongly with baseline depression and anxiety. This study characterized EMS in 192 adults and longitudinally followed 74 patients receiving psilocybin- or LSD-assisted therapy. We found that baseline schema burden, particularly related to failure and defectiveness,...
Abstract We introduce a formal framework for modeling recursive Theory--of--Mind ($TM$) dynamics inside the Symbolic Functional Consciousness ($SFC$) architecture, integrating hierarchical cognitive representation with goal--directed and insight--driven learning. Cognitive-affective states are factorized into four levels---L1 capacities, L2 mindsets, L3 core senses, and L4 global states of...
Research SquareNovember 25, 2025Nai‐kong V. Cheung1 citation
preprint
Abstract Traditional monoaminergic medications often offer limited relief for the physical and cognitive symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD. Growing data now point to fast-acting, glutamate-based treatments that boost synaptic plasticity and interrupt fear-conditioned neural circuits. We report four sequential cases of hard-to-treat trauma-spectrum...
Abstract Terror Management Theory posits that awareness of mortality typically elicits defensive responses, yet emerging evidence suggests that meditation may promote adaptive outcomes. This study examined whether long-term Sufi meditation—a contemplative practice emphasizing direct engagement with death—is associated with reduced existential defensiveness and altered prosocial orientation...
Research SquareNovember 19, 2025Irene Njoka, Jenniffer Donkor, Ruth Gakii et al.
preprint
Abstract Background : Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, with survivors often experiencing significant psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, which can impact overall recovery and quality of life. Traditional rehabilitation approaches may not fully address these challenges. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have shown promise in managing psychological...
Abstract Breathwork which increases ventilatory rate or depth represents an accessible nonpharmacological modality for potentially inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). Despite gaining traction as a therapeutic tool, empirical research remains limited, hence we conducted the first randomised-controlled trial (NCT06916312) on breathwork and ASCs. We examined the effects of a single...
Abstract Natural variation in psilocybin content across mushroom samples presents a significant challenge to consistent dosing in both research and retreat settings. In this observational report, we describe a pragmatic approach for quantifying psilocybin content in naturally sourced material to ensure more standardized dosing across participants. Eleven individuals participated in a 7-day...
Abstract This study contributes to the theoretical integration of phenomenology and behavioral science by examining how expertise reorganizes conscious experience. From a developmental and communicative perspective, skilled performance represents an epigenetic reconfiguration of awareness—from linguistically mediated control to embodied intuition. We develop an empirical phenomenology of this...
Abstract Mindfulness training (MT) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) are widely used stress-reduction practices, yet their neurochemical specificity remains almost unexplored. In a randomized, pre–post study, 30 healthy right-handed female speech-language therapy students were assigned to six weeks of MT or PMR. Short-echo time single-voxel H 1 -MRS (3T PRESS, TE ≈ 35 ms) and structural...
Research SquareNovember 11, 2025Xuming Zhu, Xiaoyong Wei, Qianyu Guo et al.
preprint
Abstract Background: The incidence of preoperative anxiety in children is significantly higher than in adults. Esketamine, the dextrorotatory enantiomer of ketamine, has been shown to alleviate preoperative anxiety in children effectively. Previous studies have established the effective dose (ED 50 ) of esketamine for reducing anxiety in pediatric patients. However, the 95% effective dose (ED...
Research SquareNovember 11, 2025Hatice Pars, Merve Akay
preprint
Abstract Background: Nursing students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress due to the combined demands of academic performance and clinical training. The COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified these stressors. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown promising results in reducing anxiety, stress, and emotional dysregulation in student populations. However, there is...
Abstract For many, cognitive and affective health declines through typical aging. Although cognitive and affective symptoms are often studied in isolation, they share substantial overlap, and arise, in part, from common biological processes. Aging is accompanied by diminished neural plasticity, heightened neuroinflammation, and widespread alterations in the epigenome. These molecular changes...
Abstract Drawing on an unprecedentedly larger sample (N = 236) than previous studies, we investigated the subjective effects of ibogaine by asking a series of three original, open-ended questions to participants enrolled in an ibogaine-assisted treatment program at a specialized healthcare facility in México. The objective was to characterize the overall phenomenology of the subjective ibogaine...
Abstract Background MDMA-related deaths increased by over 50% year on year in the most recent official statistics for England and Wales, despite prevalence of use being at its lowest level on record. Identifying the content and strength of ecstasy tablets enables public health and harm reduction services to better monitor unregulated drug markets and disseminate information about substances of...
Research SquareOctober 30, 2025Elisabeth Kenne Sarenmalm, Salmir Nasic, Anna-Lena Emanuelsson Loft et al.
preprint
Abstract Purpose This 5-year longitudinal randomized controlled trial explored the long-term efficacy of a MBSR intervention for psychological and biological response in breast cancer survivors. Methods A total of 166 women were randomly assigned into one of 3 groups: MBSR, Active controls and non-MBSR. Data were collected at baseline, 3-months, 6-months and 1-year follow-up, thereafter yearly...
Research SquareOctober 24, 2025Emilio Durán, Manuel Vázquez-Frutos, Elisa Alcocer et al.
preprint
Abstract Objectives: Depression is linked to abnormalities in resting-state networks (RSNs) such as the Default Mode Network (DMN), Salience Network (SN), and Frontoparietal Network (FPN). Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective for treating depression, but their impact on functional connectivity (FC) within and between RSNs remains unclear. This systematic review synthesizes...
Abstract Psychedelics such as psilocybin have been linked to enhanced neuroplasticity and symptom relief in affective disorders, but the neurobiological mechanisms and impact of environmen-tal context remain unclear. Here, we tested whether a single dose of psilocybin alters synap-tic density in healthy individuals and whether setting-dependent subjective experience shapes this effect. Fifteen...
Research SquareOctober 7, 2025Małgorzata Domżalska, Joanna Kwiatkowska, Iwona Cichoń et al.
preprint
Abstract Depression is a debilitating mental disorder affecting millions worldwide, yet current pharmacological treatments, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), often exhibit delayed onset and limited efficacy. The chronic social defeat (CSD) stress model in mice is a well-established preclinical paradigm for inducing depression-like behaviors and evaluating antidepressants...
Abstract Psychedelic drugs exert rapid and profound effects on human consciousness and are increasingly explored for their clinical potential. Yet, the genetic programs through which psychedelics reshape brain function and structure remain incompletely understood, in part because most studies have been conducted in preclinical models and cell cultures. We conducted a systematic literature...
Research SquareSeptember 26, 2025Soria López, Cinto Segalàs, Eva Real et al.
preprint
Abstract Background: Intranasal esketamine has gained attention as a rapidly acting intervention for treatment-resistant depression, and there is growing interest in its potential anti-obsessional effects. To our knowledge, no published case series has focused on intranasal esketamine in patients with both treatment-resistant obsessive–compulsive disorder (TR‑OCD) and comorbid major depression...