Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia
January 1, 2018
Anastasia Ruban, Aleksandra Kołodziej
20 citations
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may work by reducing activity and functional connectivity within the default-mode network (DMN), a brain system linked to self-referential thought and rumination. The review suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD temporarily disrupt DMN integrity, allowing for a more flexible, less rigid pattern of brain activity that could help patients break out of maladaptive thought patterns. This neural change is proposed as a key indicator of therapeutic effectiveness for conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. The authors call for further research to confirm the causal relationship between DMN modulation and clinical outcomes.
Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia
January 1, 2023
J. Schimmelpfennig, Kamila Jankowiak-Siuda
1 citation
Endogenous N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound with unique biological and physiological properties that may influence nervous system function. The review describes DMT's biosynthesis, metabolism, and interactions with receptors, particularly sigma-1 and trace amine-associated receptors, beyond its well-known action at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. It discusses DMT's potential roles in neuroplasticity, neuroprotection, and modulation of consciousness, as well as its possible involvement in endogenous states such as dreaming, near-death experiences, and psychosis. The authors suggest that DMT may act as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator with effects on cognitive and emotional processes, highlighting its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.
Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia
January 1, 2026
Joanna Kot, Ewa Ferensztajn-Rochowiak, Oryna Kaliuzhna et al.
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects about 30% of patients with major depressive disorder and involves complex neurobiological mechanisms beyond the traditional monoamine hypothesis. Research indicates roles for glutamatergic dysfunction, GABA system dysfunction, impaired neuroplasticity, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and neuroinflammatory processes. The kynurenine pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome are highlighted as mechanisms linking chronic stress, neuroinflammation, and treatment resistance. Impaired neuroplasticity related to BDNF is also key, with chronic stress reducing BDNF synthesis. Emerging therapeutic strategies include ketamine and psilocybin due to their effects on the glutamatergic system and neuroplasticity. The paper presents current concepts of TRD's neurobiological background and their therapeutic implications.
Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia
January 1, 2021
Maciej Giermakowski, Kamila Jankowiak-Siuda, Anna Duszyk-Bogorodzka
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a type of dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. Awareness during LD is described as bimodal, because it contains features of primary consciousness, such as perception and emotions, and secondary consciousness, such as self-reflection, abstract thinking, and metacognition. The aim of this work is to characterize lucid dreaming and indicate its neurocorrelates based on polysomnographic data and neuroimaging methods. So far, few studies have been conducted in this area, and their results do not provide a coherent picture of the associated brain activity.