N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a potent endogenous psychedelic, evokes rapid and immersive shifts in consciousness that challenge conventional neurocognitive models. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG)-fMRI studies suggest that these altered states are not chaotic but patterned, marked by a disruption of the default mode network (DMN), an increase in...
Research on psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, LSD or DMT, is a burgeoning field, with an increasing number of studies showing their promise in treatment of mental disorders as well as examining their mechanism of action. Determining their effect on the brain is crucial from clinical standpoint, but also offers highly promising avenues of advancement in basic neuroscience—functional...
The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is an intriguing yet understudied brain region implicated in diverse cognitive functions and neurological disorders. Progress in understanding the human PCC has been hindered by the absence of a clear rodent homolog, inconsistent lesion-behavior deficits in humans, and limitations in studying the region with noninvasive electrophysiological methods. However,...
Currently, the most actively investigated rapidly acting antidepressants, anxiolytics and/or anti PTSD agents, include psychedelics e.g. psilocybin, LSD, N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine, ayahuasca; non‐hallucinogenic entactogens, e.g. MDMA; psychoplastogens which rapidly promote neuroplasticity, e.g. ibogaine, ketamine and esketamine; and other atypicals e.g. dextromorphan/bupropion, esmethadone....
Biological PsychiatryJune 13, 2025Shaoqiang Han, Ya Tian, Huiting Yang et al.1 citation
Although numerous studies have attempted to identify the functional pathways underlying the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, their findings remain inconsistent, limiting our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved. This study aims to delineate a specific brain circuit by integrating diverse functional findings related to ketamine's efficacy in depression. We conducted a...
Psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin, disrupt entrenched cognitive patterns by facilitating novel insights and new associations. This paper considers how AI can potentially mimic these psychedelic-induced cognitive disruptions to augment and enhance human creativity. Psychedelics likely enhance creativity by altering brain function, notably the activity of the Default Mode Network, which...
Dreaming represents a complex and universal aspect of human sleep, yet it remains an intriguing phenomenon, with the neural mechanisms underlying dream experiences and their frequency not fully understood. This study employs a multimodal neuroimaging approach, integrating quantitative multi-parameter mapping, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting-state functional MRI, to investigate the neural...
While Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is twice as prevalent in males, females transition more quickly from heavy use to CUD and experience more severe withdrawal. These clinically relevant sex differences contrast the lack of knowledge about the underlying brain mechanisms. This study investigated the relationship between CUD and resting-state functional brain connectivity (RSFC), assessing...
Clinical NeurophysiologyMay 1, 2025Cecilia Catania, Marco Mancuso, Adolfo Mazzeo et al.3 citations
Previous neuroimaging studies indicate complex network alterations in psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) patients, but brain activity modifications occurring during PNES remain unexplored. This study aimed to analyze EEG microstate metrics in PNES patients both during events and resting state to investigate the neurophysiological changes underlying these dissociative events. We recruited...
Consciousness develops gradually in the womb and after birth, rather than being an all or none phenomenon. A newborn infant is aroused and wakes up at birth, due to the enormous sensory stimulation and stress that it undergoes during the transition from an aquatic environment to air. Its first breaths activate the locus coeruleus, as indicated by the large pupils of the newborn. The infant...