Psychedelics and disorders of consciousness: the current landscape and the path forward.
Paolo Cardone, Naji Alnagger, Jitka Annen, Aminata Bicego, Olivia Gosseries, Charlotte Martial
Neurosci Conscious June 15, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niae025 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychedelics Consciousness Medical-research Brain-disorders |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key points | Proposes that psychedelics, by enhancing brain complexity, could treat disorders of consciousness after brain injury, but notes possible counterintuitive effects on the default mode network and selfhood. |
Abstract
Modern medicine has been shaken by the surge of psychedelic science that proposes a new approach to mitigate mental disorders, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clinical trials to investigate whether psychedelic substances can treat psychiatric conditions are now underway, yet less discussion gravitates around their use in neurological disorders due to brain injury. One suggested implementation of brain-complexity enhancing psychedelics is to treat people with post-comatose disorders of consciousness (DoC). In this article, we discuss the rationale of this endeavour, examining possible outcomes of such experiments by postulating the existence of an optimal level of complexity. We consider the possible counterintuitive effects of both psychedelics and DoC on the functional connectivity of the default mode network and its possible impact on selfhood. We also elaborate on the role of computational modelling in providing complementary information to experimental studies, both contributing to our understanding of the treatment mechanisms and providing a path towards personalized medicine. Finally, we update the discourse surrounding the ethical considerations, encompassing clinical and scientific values.