Ketamine is noted for its rapid onset antidepressant response and effectiveness in patients with treatment resistant depression. While most research has focused on glutamatergic mechanisms, recent studies show that antidepressant-like effects in rodents are dependent upon the serotonergic (5-HT) system and suggest a potential contribution of the 5-HT1B receptor. In this study we utilized...
Throughout history, psychedelic compounds have been used for religious, spiritual and recreational purposes. A plethora of studies have reported the use of psychedelic compounds in the treatment of various conditions, such as alcoholism, addictions, depressive state to borderline schizophrenia, personality disorder, among other mental disorders. Psychedelic microdosing, a common technique in...
After a long period of obscurantism, a possible role of psychedelics in clinical practice has progressively become a tangible perspective during the last two decades. However, the resounding enthusiasm linked to such 'psychedelic renaissance' runs the risk to unduly minimize the possible hazards associated with these compounds, while expanding their alleged benefits to improbable panacea-like...
Selecting the optimal dose of psilocybin for treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) is crucial for clinical development and regulatory approval. This meta-analysis evaluates psilocybin's efficacy and safety in treating MDD to determine the optimal dose and timing for clinical trials. A systematic review and Dose-Response Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) of...
This chapter examines the embodied, phenomenological experience of witnessing another body in pain, exploring how empathy arises from our visceral responses to suffering. Drawing on Edith Stein’s 1917 theory of empathic experience, contemporary cognitive science, and performance studies, the discussion interrogates the limits of empathy, arguing that our capacity to empathize depends on the...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that develops from experiencing a traumatic event. A significant proportion of sexual assault survivors develop PTSD. Research indicates that 75% of sexual assault survivors meet the criteria for PTSD one month after the assault. PTSD treatment combines psychotherapy, medication, hypnosis, meditation, and emerging...
Individuals who had an emergency department (ED) visit related to use of psychedelic drugs were at higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder than those in the general population, a retrospective cohort study has found. These individuals also were more likely to develop a schizophrenia spectrum disorder compared with those who had an ED visit involving alcohol or cannabis, the researchers...
Introduction: Yoga Nidra has gained recognition as an effective intervention for stress and anxiety. This study investigated the therapeutic (psychological and physiological) effects of Yoga Nidra, focusing on its impact on mood and engagement. Methods: Twenty-one participants (N=21, 6 males) underwent a 30-minute Yoga Nidra session while wearing EEG headbands and wristbands to monitor...
Most work on working memory development has children remember a set of items as well as they can. However, this approach sidesteps the extended mind, the integration of external information with memory. Indeed, adults prefer to use external resources (e.g., lists, models) but will remember more as the cost to access them increases. Here, in our shopping game, we investigated this trade-off in...
The combination of spirituality, meditation, and artificial intelligence (AI) has promising potential to expand people’s well-being using technology-based meditation. Proper meditation originates from Zen Buddhism and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and focuses on inner peace and intensified consciousness which elective personal disposition. AI, in turn, brings smarter means of delivering those...