Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

27 papers in the library · 2,352 citations · publishing 2011-2026

Papers

Psychedelics do not always enhance cognitive flexibility: The potential role of time-varying effects on reward learning processes

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 30, 2026 Raquel Kosted, Manoj K. Doss, Jennifer J. Donegan et al. 1 citation

Psychedelics may enhance cognitive flexibility, but findings are mixed, with some studies showing impairment. This review proposes that acute effects of psychedelics boost learning from reward receipt, which can lead to perseveration, while post-acute effects enhance learning from reward omission, counteracting that perseveration. Different serotonin receptor subtypes (5-HT2C, 5-HT2A, 5-HT1A) may support these distinct learning processes. This hypothesis explains when psychedelics improve flexible decision-making and why insights reached under their influence can be held strongly, and it suggests strategies to reduce maladaptive belief formation.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106788 Full text Cognition Reward system Animal learning Perception +3

Methodological moderators of psilocybin-assisted therapy in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews January 24, 2026 Omer A. Syed, Benjamin Tsang, Sean M. Nestor et al.

Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) shows a large and significant antidepressant effect in treating major depressive disorder, based on a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials involving 522 participants. Larger effects were associated with bodyweight-adjusted dosing, longer preparation, dosing, and integration sessions, and non-manualized psychotherapy, though subgroup differences were not statistically significant. The review provides preliminary guidance for clinicians designing PAT protocols.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106573 Treatment-resistant depression Major depressive disorder Psilocybin Antidepressant +15