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psychedelics

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

More People Turning to Psilocybin for Self-Treatment

Psilocybin use in the U.S. has risen sharply across all age groups since 2019, coinciding with increasing legalization and interest in its therapeutic potential. A new study reveals a 44% rise in past-year use among young adults and a 188% increase among those over 30.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·April 22, 2025·4 min read

Psychedelics Linked to Visual Echoes

As psychedelics gain traction in mental health treatment, questions remain about their long-term effects. A new study followed individuals self-administering psychedelics and found that while some experienced lingering visual aftereffects, most were not distressed by them.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 14, 2025·5 min read

LSD-Inspired Drug Reverses Psychosis Brain Damage Without Hallucinations

A new LSD-derived compound called JRT shows promise for treating schizophrenia and other brain disorders without inducing hallucinations. Developed by researchers who altered just two atoms in LSD’s structure, JRT maintains the psychedelic’s neuroplastic effects while avoiding its psychosis-linked risks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 4, 2025·3 min read

How Psilocybin Lifts Mood Without the Hallucinogenic Trip

Researchers have uncovered two key brain mechanisms—specific neurons and a serotonin receptor—that help explain how psilocybin produces long-lasting antidepressant effects. Their study identified pyramidal tract neurons in the medial frontal cortex and the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor as essential to the therapeutic action of psilocybin.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2025·5 min read

Psychedelics May Enhance Intimacy, Attraction, and Sexual Expression

In the first study of its kind, researchers found that psychedelic use can positively affect sexuality, romantic relationships, and gender expression. Surveying nearly 600 users of substances like psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine, the study revealed that many participants reported increased partner attraction, improved intimacy, and enhanced sexual experiences.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 13, 2024·6 min read

Schizophrenia Risks Tied to Psychedelic Use

A new study links hallucinogen-related emergency department visits to a 21-fold increased risk of schizophrenia compared to the general population. Even after accounting for other mental health disorders and substance use, individuals faced a 3.5-fold higher risk.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 13, 2024·4 min read

Psychedelic Therapy Could Benefit 5.6 Million People with Depression

Psilocybin-assisted therapy could potentially benefit up to 5.6 million Americans with major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant depression, offering a powerful alternative to traditional treatments. Researchers applied medical criteria to a national pool of patients and found that over half might be eligible for psilocybin therapy, pending FDA approval. If approved, this therapy could significantly impact public health policies, insurance frameworks, and economic costs by reducing reliance on long-term antidepressant prescriptions.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 8, 2024·3 min read

Optimism Boosted by Psilocybin, Hinting at Depression Relief

Researchers have discovered that psilocybin, a psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, increases optimism and motivation in rats, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for treating depression. Using computational modeling, scientists observed that rats given psilocybin were more likely to engage in reward-based tasks, indicating enhanced optimism.

This shows a woman and psychedelic swirls.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 3, 2024·4 min read

Psychedelics Reduce Anxiety Without Hallucinations

New research has pinpointed the specific brain region and neuron type responsible for reducing anxiety using the psychedelic drug DOI, without triggering hallucinations. The study revealed that DOI targets serotonin2A receptors on parvalbumin-positive neurons in the ventral hippocampus, decreasing anxiety behaviors in animal models.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 24, 2024·3 min read

Psychedelic Drug Reduces Anxiety by Targeting Fast-spiking Interneurons

The psychedelic DOI, a compound similar to LSD, reduced anxiety in mice by activating specific brain cells called fast-spiking interneurons. These neurons silence nearby cells in the ventral hippocampus, a region linked to emotion and memory. By uncovering this mechanism, the study opens the door to designing new treatments that target anxiety without triggering hallucinations, a hallmark of many psychedelics.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 5, 2024·5 min read

New Tool Rapidly Tracks Psychedelic Effects in Brain Neurons

Researchers developed a rapid, noninvasive tool called CaST that tracks neurons and biomolecules activated by psychedelic drugs. This new method allows researchers to observe the cellular processes responsible for the neuroplastic effects of psychedelics, offering insights into treatments for brain disorders like depression and PTSD.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 17, 2024·5 min read

Mind-Bending: Psilocybin Reshapes Brain Networks for Weeks

A new study reveals that psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, temporarily disrupts brain networks involved in introspective thinking, like daydreaming and memory. These changes persist for weeks, potentially making the brain more flexible and improving mental health. The findings could pave the way for psilocybin-based therapies for depression and PTSD. The research underscores the importance of using these drugs under medical supervision.

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psychedelics

More People Turning to Psilocybin for Self-Treatment

Psychedelics Linked to Visual Echoes

LSD-Inspired Drug Reverses Psychosis Brain Damage Without Hallucinations

How Psilocybin Lifts Mood Without the Hallucinogenic Trip

Psychedelics May Enhance Intimacy, Attraction, and Sexual Expression

Schizophrenia Risks Tied to Psychedelic Use

Psychedelic Therapy Could Benefit 5.6 Million People with Depression

Optimism Boosted by Psilocybin, Hinting at Depression Relief

Psychedelics Reduce Anxiety Without Hallucinations

Psychedelic Drug Reduces Anxiety by Targeting Fast-spiking Interneurons

New Tool Rapidly Tracks Psychedelic Effects in Brain Neurons

Mind-Bending: Psilocybin Reshapes Brain Networks for Weeks

Mapping the Brain’s Resting Grid Through Menopause

Parental Infertility Biology, Not IVF, Linked to Child Autism Traits

Glucosamine Supplement Linked to Accelerated Alzheimer’s Progression

Silencing One Brain Gene May Reverse Autism Deficits

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