Introduction. Limitations of conventional treatments for depression and anxiety, particularly in treatment-resistant cases, have driven interest in alternative therapeutic approaches. Psilocybin, a serotonergic agonist with demonstrated effects on neuroplasticity and large-scale brain networks, has emerged as a promising therapeutic option. Materials and methods: A systematic review of...
Current BiologyApril 20, 2026Nikhil Bhatla, Kathryn Cheong, Sho Takahashi et al.
The phenomenon of blindsight provides a unique opportunity to uncover brain areas important for conscious vision. Patients with blindsight lose the conscious experience of seeing while still being able to detect and locate visual stimuli. Blindsight occurs after damage to the primary visual cortex (V1). Rodents are likewise able to detect and locate visual stimuli after damage to V1, though...
Art TherapyApril 20, 2026Rebecca Ann Wilkinson, Alyssa B. Gursky
Renewal of research into psychedelics indicates their ability to provide relief from challenging conditions like trauma, treatment resistant depression, addictions, and end-of-life distress. Psychedelics appear to promote neuroplasticity, stimulate creativity, dampen fear responses, circumvent psychological defenses, soften rigid beliefs, and foster profound feelings of unity. The non-verbal,...
The chapter presents a unified examination of yoga and its body-mind approach by exploring neural mechanisms, psychological and philosophical aspects. It examines how yoga facilitates the body-mind connection through yogic texts and scientific study, such as breath regulation (pranayama), postural awareness (asana) and meditative focus (dhyana). This study applies polyvagal theory,...
In today's world of rising psychological stress and emotional imbalance, mindfulness and yoga have become highly relevant for mental health care. This chapter explores their impact on emotional regulation from both spiritual and neuropsychological perspectives, highlighting therapeutic mechanisms and practical applications. Based on cognitive-affective theory and supported by recent...
Depression represents a critical global health burden, ranking as the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Although drug therapies remain an important cornerstone in treating depression, we must acknowledge their significant shortcomings: they often take too long to work, cause difficult side effects, and fail to prevent relapse. Critically, while current drugs target specific...
BACKGROUND: Chronic stress is a risk factor for the development of anxiety, depression, and comorbid systemic conditions. Ayahuasca (AYA) has been used for hundreds of years and it elicits antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. However, it remains unknown whether AYA elicits a behavioral and biochemical protective effect in chronic stress. AIM OF THE STUDY: Therefore, we evaluated the...
Prolonged obesity induces enduring structural changes within neural circuits that contribute to maintaining the body at an elevated/obese body weight. These circuits regulate various mechanisms which can inhibit extreme or persistent weight loss. Therefore, a potential therapeutic strategy to facilitate weight loss is to promote structural plasticity within the brain. Psychedelic compounds,...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a colossal worldwide burden of health, affecting more than 350 million individuals. While traditional antidepressants with mechanisms of action at the serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine pathways are routinely prescribed, approximately one-third of patients fail to achieve adequate remission and develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This...
Scientific objectivity is traditionally understood as a regulative ideal achieved through methodological rigor,intersubjective verification, and empirical testing. However, this conception presupposes relatively stable cognitive conditions under which observation and interpretation occur. Drawing on insights from cognitive neuroscience, predictive processing, and contemplative research, this...