PLoS One
January 1, 2025
Zhilin Chen, Jie Ge, Quan Gan et al.
2 citations
Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) involves uncontrolled gaming that harms emotional well-being, responsibilities, and relationships, and is linked to deficits in executive functions such as inhibition, updating, and shifting. Mindfulness interventions may improve these cognitive abilities. This planned study will recruit 82 individuals diagnosed with IGD and 40 non-addicted gamers, split evenly into a 7-day mindfulness breathing meditation group or a progressive muscle relaxation control group. Outcomes measured at seven time points include EEG data, behavioral response times and accuracy, heart rate variability, self-reported craving, mindfulness, executive function, and impulsivity. Secondary measures cover anxiety, stress, affect, sleep, personality, and health. The research aims to test whether brief mindfulness training improves executive function in IGD and to identify underlying neural mechanisms, potentially guiding targeted interventions.
PLoS One
May 13, 2024
Otto Simonsson, Stephen D. Fisher
2 citations
In 2021, 16 percent of adults in Britain had learned to practice mindfulness. Among those who practiced during the COVID-19 pandemic, 60 percent reported positive mental health effects, while 24 percent reported negative effects. Negative effects were more common among respondents with children under 18 (41 percent) compared to those without minors (13 percent). Mindfulness practice was more common among young and middle-aged adults, London residents, and Liberal Democrat voters. The findings indicate that mindfulness use is widespread but concentrated in certain groups, and that negative mental health effects affect a notable minority, warranting further research.
PLoS One
January 1, 2024
Josh Martin, Fatemeh Gholamali Nezhad, Alice Rueda et al.
2 citations
Ketamine shows rapid antidepressant effects in major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant depression, but many patients do not respond, and predicting who will benefit is difficult. This study will examine computational mechanisms behind changes in the auditory mismatch negativity response after intravenous ketamine, linking them to neural causes using a hierarchical Bayesian model and a neural mass model. Thirty patients with treatment-resistant depression will undergo EEG recordings during an auditory mismatch negativity task before three of four ketamine infusions, with depression, suicidality, and anxiety assessed throughout. The findings may improve understanding of treatment response and resistance, and model parameters could enable single-patient treatment predictions.
PLoS One
January 1, 2024
Nicholas Hagger-Vaughan, Daniel Kolnier, Johan F. Storm
2 citations
A newly described type of depolarising plateau potential (PP) in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells of rat prefrontal cortex slices generates sustained spiking that outlasts the triggering stimulus. Unlike previously known plateau potentials that rely on the apical dendrite, these PPs persist even when the apical dendrite is severed, and are sustained by calcium application only to the soma and basal dendrites. They depend on metabotropic cholinergic or glutamatergic modulation and on TRPC4 and TRPC5 cation channels, requiring external calcium and internal calcium stores but not voltage-gated calcium channels. These PPs may underlie sustained activity important for working memory, access consciousness, and executive functions.
PLoS One
January 1, 2023
Anastasia Demina, Benjamin Petit, Vincent Meille et al.
2 citations
Combining mindfulness training with non-invasive brain stimulation may have synergistic effects on mental health, but this emerging field has not yet been systematically reviewed. This protocol outlines a planned systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that test the combination of these two interventions in humans. The primary outcomes are changes in anxiety and depression symptoms; secondary outcomes include other mental health measures. Searches of four databases and three trial registries began in November 2022. Two authors will independently extract data, assess bias with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and evaluate evidence strength using GRADE. The review aims to determine whether a quantitative synthesis is appropriate based on clinical heterogeneity.
PLoS One
August 28, 2019
Simon B. Goldberg, Matthew J. Hirshberg, Lawrence Y. Tello et al.
2 citations
Long-term meditators are perceived by observers as less neurotic and more conscientious, mindful, and comfortable in their own skin than meditation-naïve individuals, based solely on ratings of still photographs. These differences were not explained by age, gender, race/ethnicity, body mass index, or attractiveness. No such differences were observed after an eight-week mindfulness meditation course, an active control program, or a waitlist period, suggesting that observable facial cues linked to meditation may require extensive training to emerge.
PLoS One
March 6, 2026
Caden Poh, Cheyanne Head, John-Jose Nunez et al.
1 citation
People with bipolar disorder and their supporters most frequently ask about misdiagnosis and differential diagnoses, according to an analysis of over 2,000 questions submitted during five years of online Reddit AMA events. Other common topics include coping with daily struggles, understanding hypomania and suicidality, medication and use of substances like psilocybin and ketamine, and supporting loved ones with the condition. The findings suggest that future research and clinical conversations should address these prioritized areas to better meet the needs of individuals with bipolar disorder.
PLoS One
January 1, 2026
Aliya Islam, Javeria Rehman, Sumbul Mujeeb et al.
1 citation
A mixed-methods study at Baqai Dental College in Karachi, Pakistan, with sixty-nine final-year dental students found that two mindfulness-based life skill-building sessions reduced burnout. Mean exhaustion scores on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory-Student Survey were significantly lower after the intervention. Qualitative focus group discussions revealed that exhaustion strongly affected personal, academic, and professional life, and students expressed satisfaction with the sessions and a desire for more such programs. The findings indicate that brief mindfulness interventions can help alleviate academic stress and burnout during the transition from student to practicing dentist.
PLoS One
December 4, 2025
Jonathan Robinson, Andrew W. Corcoran, Christopher J. Whyte et al.
1 citation
Active inference, a framework for modeling how sentient agents behave, is being tested as necessary for changes in conscious content. In an adversarial collaboration, active inference will be contrasted with two other theories that do not require it for consciousness. This study protocol describes an adaptation of the motion-induced blindness paradigm: an active condition where participants direct their gaze toward a target after it disappears from consciousness and report its reappearance, versus a passive condition where participants fixate centrally while the stimulus array moves in a replay of active eye-tracking data. Two experiments will compare target reappearance across conditions to evaluate active inference's contribution to conscious awareness.
PLoS One
August 27, 2025
Amy Kartar, Toru Horinouchi, Balázs Örzsik et al.
1 citation
High ventilation breathwork (HVB), which involves rapid or deep breathing often accompanied by music, can produce altered states of consciousness (ASCs) similar to those caused by psychedelic substances, including euphoria, bliss, and perceptual changes. The neurobiological mechanisms behind these effects were largely unknown. In experienced practitioners, the intensity of ASCs from HVB was proportional to cardiovascular sympathetic activation and to changes in cerebral blood flow in the left operculum/posterior insula and right amygdala/anterior hippocampus—brain regions involved in sensing breathing and processing emotional memories. These brain changes may underlie the positive therapeutic outcomes associated with HVB.
PLoS One
February 12, 2025
Zishan Jiwani, Simon B. Goldberg, Jack Stroud et al.
1 citation
Most meditators who also use psychedelics report that the drugs improve their meditation practice. In a survey of 863 regular meditators who had used psychedelics, 73.5% said psychedelics positively influenced the quality of their meditation. Machine learning analysis of 53 variables identified the strongest predictors of this perceived benefit: greater frequency of psychedelic use, setting intentions before taking psychedelics, having an agreeable personality, and having used N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (N,N-DMT). The results suggest that individual traits and patterns of use shape whether psychedelics are seen as helpful for meditation, but causality cannot be established from this cross-sectional data.
PLoS One
January 1, 2025
Erik J Groessl, Thomas Rutledge
1 citation
An analysis of a randomized trial of 203 veterans with PTSD found that Transcendental Meditation (TM) was more cost-effective than Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy or health education (HE). TM cost $1,504 for 12 sessions, while PE cost $2,822 and HE cost $492. TM was non-inferior to PE for improving PTSD symptoms, and both TM and PE outperformed HE. Clinically significant improvement occurred in 61% of the TM group, 42% of the PE group, and 32% of the HE group. Higher healthcare costs for non-responders offset the lower intervention cost of HE, making TM the dominant strategy over both alternatives over a 5-year horizon.
PLoS One
January 1, 2025
Anne S. Fleiner, Daniel Kolnier, Nicholas Hagger-Vaughan et al.
1 citation
Propofol and ketamine, two common general anesthetics, affect consciousness differently—propofol produces a deeply unconscious state with few dreams, while ketamine often leads to vivid dreaming. In rat brain slices of the medial prefrontal cortex, an area linked to conscious access and working memory, researchers added muscarine to mimic an aroused state and recorded electrical activity in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells. Muscarine triggered long-lasting depolarizing plateau potentials and spiking. Pre-incubation with a low dose of propofol reduced these plateau potentials and significantly reduced spiking, whereas a low dose of ketamine appeared to enhance them, though not significantly. A high dose of ketamine suppressed both. The contrasting effects on plateau potentials may relate to the different clinical experiences of dreaming under these drugs.
PLoS One
January 1, 2025
Sarah Kratina, Carol Strike, Robert Schwartz et al.
1 citation
Psychedelic substances show growing therapeutic potential for easing psychological suffering at the end of life, yet policy remains restrictive. Existing reviews have mostly covered psilocybin for anxiety and depression, but have not adequately addressed the range of substances (ayahuasca, psilocybin, ketamine) and therapeutic approaches (psychedelics alone or with psychotherapy) used specifically in end-of-life populations. This scoping review will follow Arksey and O'Malley's framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines to search health science databases for empirical studies on psychedelic interventions, psychological suffering, and end-of-life issues. Extracted data will cover intervention details, participant characteristics, outcomes, and theorised mechanisms to inform future care strategies.
PLoS One
January 1, 2025
Justin DeMaranville, Tinakon Wongpakaran, Nahathai Wongpakaran et al.
1 citation
Among 443 Thai high school students (mean age 16.35 years, 87.9% female), Buddha image visualization, Manomayiddhi, and breathing meditation were each associated with specific mental health benefits. Buddha image visualization predicted higher self-esteem and resilience, and lower anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Manomayiddhi predicted higher resilience and lower anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Breathing meditation predicted lower depression. Practicing any meditation daily was linked to the best mental health scores.
PLoS One
November 13, 2024
Kenneth Drinkwater, Andrew Denovan, Neil Dagnall
1 citation
Traditional Paranormal Belief (TPB), which involves belief in supernatural forces that provide social-level control, predicts higher distress and lower coping, whereas New Age Philosophy (NAP), which involves belief in individual-level control, shows no such association. In a sample of 3,084 adults (ages 18–91), TPB was significantly linked to worse well-being as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale, while NAP was unrelated to either distress or coping. The findings support the idea that TPB is associated with an external locus of control, specifically the notion that unknown supernatural forces influence existence.
PLoS One
October 24, 2024
Kyurim Kim, Abban Yusuf, Abhimanyu Sud et al.
1 citation
Psychedelic clinics in Ontario, Canada, advertise psychedelics such as ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin for 47 medical conditions, most commonly depression. An analysis of 10 clinic websites found that only 2 mentioned potential risks. The clinics cited 29 studies, the majority of which were case-series and case-control studies (level 4 evidence, the second lowest quality). Overall, the evidence quality supporting the clinics' claims was low to moderate. The study underscores the need for transparent, high-quality evidence to ensure safe and effective use of psychedelics in mental health treatment.
PLoS One
January 1, 2024
Kristen M Lee, Bita Ghanei, A Janet Tomiyama
1 citation
Weight stigma is widespread, but existing interventions have only modest effects. Two experiments tested a loving kindness meditation (LKM) as a novel approach. Experiment 1 examined whether LKM reduces explicit and implicit anti-fat bias and increases empathy, depending on whether the recipient is a close other or a stranger. Experiment 2 compared LKM to an empathy intervention and a control. The LKM increased empathic care but did not reduce anti-fat bias relative to control. In unadjusted analyses, LKM (but not the empathy intervention) led to greater empathy than control. Unexpectedly, participants in both LKM and empathy interventions were more likely to engage in stigmatizing behavior than those in the control. These results indicate that LKM may not effectively reduce weight stigma despite boosting empathy.
PLoS One
January 1, 2024
Antoine Grigis, Chloé Gomez, Vincent Frouin et al.
1 citation
A new framework uses a linear latent variable model to identify and quantify resting-state brain networks from fMRI recordings, addressing the atlas selection problem and enabling statistical inference on network activities. Applied to monkey data under different anesthetics with static functional connectivity, the method suggests that two networks—one fronto-parietal and cingular, another posterior (temporo-parieto-occipital)—strongly influence shifts in consciousness, particularly between anesthesia and wakefulness. This aligns with the global neural workspace and integrated information theories of consciousness. The approach can also decode anesthesia level from network activities and may aid studies of disorders of consciousness.
PLoS One
January 1, 2023
Justine Van de Velde, Katia Levecque, Bert Weijters et al.
1 citation
A six-month meditation practice of five to ten minutes daily improved emotional and physical well-being and prevented the development of cognitive well-being problems among 199 teachers who meditated with their pupils. A control group of 42 teachers showed worsening cognitive well-being over the same period. The effects were strongest for emotional and cognitive well-being and followed a linear trend. The findings suggest that focused attention meditation, a technique used in many mindfulness-based interventions, contributes to the well-being benefits of those interventions. Occupational groups facing emotional, cognitive, or physical well-being issues may benefit from a few minutes of this practice per day.
PLoS One
June 30, 2026
David Sjöström, Olea Schau Rybäck, Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson et al.
This protocol outlines a planned study to examine the safety and therapeutic potential of psilocybin for treating anorexia nervosa in adolescents and young adults. It describes the rationale, design, and methods for a clinical trial that will assess whether psilocybin-assisted therapy can be safely administered to this population and whether it may help reduce eating disorder symptoms. The protocol specifies participant eligibility criteria, intervention procedures, outcome measures, and safety monitoring. No results are reported as the study has not yet been conducted.
PLoS One
June 18, 2026
Elisa Liberati, Hv Curran, Peter Fonagy et al.
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy shows promise for treating PTSD, but the psychological mechanisms behind its effects are not well understood. This qualitative study will have approximately 25 experienced psychodynamic psychotherapists receive two doses of MDMA (80-120 mg, oral) in an open-label design. Participants will complete interviews before, during, and after MDMA sessions, plus daily journals. Researchers will use phenomenological and thematic analysis, along with grounded theory, to develop a model of MDMA's psychological mechanisms of action. The study treats therapists as expert observers of their own psychological processes, aiming to generate insights that can inform future treatment models and offer a framework for qualitative mechanistic research on psychedelics.
PLoS One
May 29, 2026
Roman Palitsky, Caroline Peacock, Jeffrey A. Breau et al.
Psychedelic facilitation training in the US is an evolving field with common priorities and gaps. Interviews with representatives from 13 established and emerging training organizations revealed shared focuses on careful selection of trainees and faculty, content emphases in instruction, addressing spiritual and existential topics, and teaching strategies. Identified gaps include the need for continuing education for program graduates, parity with other disciplines, and development of field standards. The authors suggest that training programs and trainees would benefit from greater collaboration and ongoing exchange about best practices as the field adjusts to scientific, social, economic, and regulatory developments.
PLoS One
January 1, 2026
Diego Castellano-Ramírez, Elisa Hernández-Álvarez, Lucas F Borkel et al.
A survey of 325 medical and nursing students at a Spanish university found cautiously optimistic views toward psychedelic-assisted therapy, though concerns persist. Women reported lower perceived knowledge about psychedelics, while older students showed greater openness to their therapeutic potential. Medical students had higher perceived knowledge and stronger agreement with therapeutic applications than nursing students, who more strongly linked psychedelic use to psychiatric risk. Students who had personally used psychedelics were more supportive of legalization and therapeutic use. Formal education on psychedelics was associated with more favorable attitudes and increased knowledge, suggesting that training may reduce stigma and support evidence-based policy.
PLoS One
January 1, 2026
Young Im Cho, Hyo Jin Kim, Dong Hee Kim
An adapted online Meditation-Mindfulness-Positive Psychology Training (MMPT) program, shortened to six sessions and tailored for nursing students in Korea, was tested for feasibility and preliminary effectiveness. In a mixed-methods pilot study, the experimental group showed significant improvements in gratitude disposition, self-compassion, and perceived stress, but not in mindfulness or overall mental health. Qualitative interviews revealed perceived gains in calmness, self-kindness, positivity, and coping, with students valuing gratitude journaling, compassion exercises, and peer support. The program appears feasible for reducing stress and boosting positive psychological resources, though larger and longer studies are needed.