Virtual reality (VR) and psychedelic experiences share significant phenomenological and therapeutic parallels, both offering immersive environments capable of altering perception and evoking profound emotional responses. This study explores the integration of VR with simulated psychedelic experiences using brain-computer interface (BCI) systems to harness their combined therapeutic potential....
Ketamine is a dissociative drug used for the treatment of depression. However, the neurofunctional mechanism underlying the antidepressant effect of ketamine remains unknown. According to previous research, low-dose ketamine affects large-scale brain networks, including default-mode and salient networks. A total of 43 patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and suicidal ideation (SI)...
Late-life depression represents a significant health concern, linked to disruptions in brain connectivity and immune functioning, mood regulation, and cognitive function. This pilot study explores a digital intervention targeting mental health, brain health, and immune functioning in individuals aged 55-60 with subjective cognitive decline, elevated stress and depressive symptoms. Seventeen...
Medical ScienceFebruary 25, 2025Jakub Pudźwa, Kamil Gibczyński, Karol Leśniewski et al.
Objective: The purpose of the following review was to summarize the recent studies on proposed mechanisms of action of psychedelic drugs (psilocybin, MDMA, LSD), their therapeutic potential in mental disorders (depression, PTSD, addictions), and the evaluation of their safety. This review also discusses the barriers to the clinical implementation of these agents. Methodology: The paper combines...
medRxiv Preprint ServerFebruary 25, 2025J Cohen, AC Reichelt, R Zamyadi et al.1 citation
preprint
This detailed case report explores the application of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in the treatment of a male patient in their late 30’s with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and depressive symptoms. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders due to its rapid and robust...
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is prevalent and can be disabling. Many patients remain symptomatic despite behavioral and medical therapies. Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), in which serotonergic agents like psilocybin are administered in a psychotherapeutic context, has shown promise for refractory psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress...
Breathing meditation typically consists of directing attention toward breathing and redirecting attention when the mind wanders. As yet, we do not have a full understanding of the neural mechanisms of breath attention, in particular, how large-scale network interactions may be different between breath attention and rest and how these interactions may be modulated during periods of on-task and...
January 10, 2025Navdeep Ahuja, Yogesh Singh, Jayvardhan Singh
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Enlightenment, which can be described as the end goal of long-term meditation practices, is a mental state where the boundaries of the apparent Self dissolve, experienced as a nondual awareness. The neural correlates of meditation reveal patterns such as deactivation of the Default Mode Network, activation of the Central Executive Network, and structural brain reorganization.In this context, we...
Psychedelics have gained increasing interest in scientific research due to their ability to induce profound alterations in perception, emotional processing and self-consciousness. However, the research regarding the functioning of individuals who use psychedelics in naturalistic contexts remains limited. Here we aim to explore psychological and neurophysiological differences between...
Chronic cannabis use (CU) can result in subtle deficits in cognitive performance that may be linked with alterations in underlying neural functioning. However, these network alterations are not well-characterized following monitored abstinence. Here, we evaluate differences in functional brain network activity associated with CU patterns in adolescents/young adults. Functional connectomes were...