Psychedelics
November 20, 2025
Holly Hepburn, Bart A. Ellenbroek, Jiun Youn
A striking 75% of participants reported enhanced well-being after experiencing psychedelics, highlighting their potential in psychology and pain management. In a sample of 200 individuals, qualitative analysis revealed that 60% experienced significant shifts in beliefs about paranormal phenomena. The serotonergic effects of these substances appeared to influence cognitive and developmental psychology, suggesting a link between altered states and psychological insights. Moreover, 40% noted a placebo effect, emphasizing the complex interplay between expectation and experience in therapeutic contexts.
Psychedelics
November 15, 2025
Meghan DellaCrosse, Shoval Gilead, Rafael Lancelotta et al.
Spanish-speaking individuals who had a memorable psilocybin or LSD experience reported two main themes: deep connection (to nature, others, the present moment, and the substance) and emotion-related experiences (from joy and peace to emotional processing, catharsis, and challenging experiences). The findings are based on a secondary qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses from 379 Spanish-speaking participants. Similarities appeared across both substances, with some unique nuances. The work underscores the need for diverse populations in psychedelic research to improve generalizability and cultural relevance, and highlights the therapeutic potential of psychedelics while calling for culturally sensitive tools.
Psychedelics
September 2, 2025
Gregor Hasler
Professor Gregor Hasler's research focuses on how psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA can rapidly enhance neuroplasticity, leading to clinical improvements in depression, PTSD, and addiction that last months or years after treatment. His team discovered that mGluR5 is a biomarker for nicotine dependence, translating molecular research into practical applications. Hasler's work on glutamate and GABA systems has reshaped understanding of mood disorders and opened new treatment pathways for treatment-resistant conditions. His book 'Higher Self: Psychedelics in Psychotherapy' synthesizes decades of research, advocating for safe integration of psychedelic therapies into mainstream medicine.
Psychedelics
June 10, 2025
Stephen Ross
A single dose of psilocybin combined with psychotherapy produced rapid, substantial, and enduring reductions in anxiety and depression among advanced cancer patients, according to a landmark 2016 study that attracted 1.7 billion media views. The work, led by Professor Stephen Ross at NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, also demonstrated efficacy for alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder. Ross secured the first National Cancer Institute grant for psychedelic research in over 50 years, helping revive a dormant field. His ongoing research extends into pain management, early-stage cancer interventions, and possible anti-inflammatory properties of psychedelics, aiming to address conditions with substantial unmet needs.
Psychedelics
June 3, 2025
Erin Mauney
A researcher explores how psilocybin may help patients with treatment-resistant IBS by modulating interoception, the sense of the internal state of the body. The work is the first of its kind in gastroenterology and examines how early-life trauma becomes somatically encoded. Psychedelic-assisted therapy may create pathways for emotional release and functional improvement. The patient-centered approach combines neuroimaging, qualitative analysis, and clinical outcomes to develop scalable therapeutic options, challenging the artificial mind-body divide in medicine. This research represents a paradigm shift in understanding how psychedelics could transform treatment for patients unresponsive to conventional therapies.
Psychedelics
May 6, 2025
Michael A. Wheeler
Psychedelics like psilocybin can reverse stress-induced fear behaviors by targeting a previously hidden neuroimmune pathway connecting inflammatory cells in the meninges to brain regions controlling emotions and rewards. This research, validated in a Nature article, shows that psychedelics regulate the interplay between brain and immune cells in fear responses. By modulating both neurons and immune responses, the work opens new therapeutic possibilities for depression, addiction, and stress-related disorders.
Psychedelics
August 9, 2024
Thomas J. Kelly, Qing-Song Liu
Classical psychedelics are being studied as potential treatments for PTSD. Research in rodents shows these substances affect fear learning, recall, and extinction. The amygdala, a brain region central to fear processing, is key to these effects. Psychedelics interact with different cell types in the amygdala, and specific neural circuits may underlie their fear-suppressing effects. Because rodent and human amygdalas are functionally similar, findings from animal studies can guide clinical trials for psychedelic-assisted PTSD therapy. The authors emphasize that each psychedelic's unique pharmacology and duration of action are important factors for future research.
Psychedelics
March 8, 2024
Charles L. Raison
Charles Raison, a professor and researcher, discusses his career studying major depression and stress-related conditions. His work examines novel mechanisms in depression treatment, the effects of compassion training, and the potential of psychedelic medicines for major depression. He was recognized as one of the world's most influential researchers from 2010 to 2019.
Psychedelics
August 26, 2025
Harriet de Wit
This Genomic Press Interview profiles Professor Harriet de Wit, a psychopharmacology researcher at the University of Chicago who has studied psychoactive drugs for 45 years. Her work has demonstrated that MDMA enhances feelings of social connectedness during interpersonal interactions, findings with implications for PTSD treatment and psychotherapy. She has also researched microdosing, place preference procedures, and drug-induced neural actions, bridging animal and human studies. The interview notes her continuous NIH funding for over 42 years and her role as a consultant to author Michael Pollan.
Psychedelics
April 22, 2025
Elizabeth J. Brouns, Tyler G. Ekins, Omar J. Ahmed
A single dose of the selective serotonin 2A receptor agonist 25CN-NBOH produces long-lasting improvements in cognitive flexibility in both male and female mice, measured 2-3 weeks after treatment. In an automated sequential learning task, treated mice showed superior adaptability in rule reversal compared to controls, with better poke efficiency, higher correct trial percentages, and increased reward acquisition. These behavioral results extend prior cellular findings on psychedelic-induced structural remodeling in the prefrontal cortex and demonstrate sustained cognitive benefits weeks after a single dose. The automated task offers a high-throughput method for evaluating cognitive flexibility effects of psychedelic compounds, with implications for conditions like depression, PTSD, and Alzheimer's disease.
Psychedelics
December 17, 2024
Alaina M Jaster
The serotonin 2A receptor modulates the rewarding aspects of opioids and influences neuroplasticity differently across sexes. Endocannabinoids are involved in fear extinction, and biomarkers may indicate familial risk of depression. Psychedelic use among adolescent populations is also being investigated.