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psychedelics

·May 8, 2024·5 min read

Psychedelics Activate Serotonin to Produce Antidepressant Effect

A new study advanced our understanding of how psychedelic drugs activate serotonin receptors to offer potential treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. The identifies the interaction of psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin with the serotonin receptor 5-HT1A, which is pivotal in their therapeutic effects.

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·May 2, 2024·7 min read

Psilocybin Effective as Antidepressant

Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, is notably more effective at alleviating depression symptoms than conventional controls. Analyzing seven trials with 436 participants, researchers found a substantial improvement in depression scores following psilocybin treatment compared to placebos or other minor psychedelic doses, showcasing a large effect size.

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·November 11, 2023·2 min read

Unraveling Psychedelics’ Potential in Mental Health

Research delves into the potential of psychedelics like psilocybin for treating psychiatric disorders. Studies show varying effects of psilocybin on fear learning in rats and mice, dependent on sex and dosage, and its potential to alleviate nicotine withdrawal in mice.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 3, 2023·5 min read

Psilocybin Microdosing Promising for Mental Health Disorders

Researchers delve into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin microdosing, exploring its influence on stress resilience and compulsive behaviors in rats. While high-dose psilocybin therapy has been scrutinized for psychiatric treatment applications, this study focuses on low, repeated doses—commonly known as 'microdosing'—and its burgeoning popularity in self-medication narratives online.

This shows mushrooms and a person looking at them.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 7, 2023·4 min read

Psilocybin and Mental Health: A Glimpse into Psychedelic Therapeutics

Psychedelic drugs, notably psilocybin found in "magic mushrooms," are under the spotlight for their potential to treat various mental health disorders. Recent studies reveal promising outcomes using psilocybin for major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 8, 2023·6 min read

Psychedelics Sync Neurons: A Glimpse into Consciousness & Psychosis

Researchers have pioneered a method to simultaneously measure electrical signals from 128 brain regions in conscious rats. Using this technique, they observed the effects of psychedelic drugs, LSD and ketamine, on the brain's neural oscillations.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 28, 2023·5 min read

Journeys Beyond: Contrasting Psychedelic Trips and Near-Death Experiences

A research study scrutinizes the parallels and differences between a near-death experience (NDE) during a coma and the experience induced by a potent psychedelic drug, 5-Methoxy-DMT (5MeO-DMT). The researchers found shared themes, such as ego dissolution and space-time transcendence.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 12, 2023·7 min read

Psychedelic Breakthrough: MDMA Revolutionizes PTSD Treatment

Psychedelic therapies, including the use of MDMA, are set to revolutionize psychiatric treatments, especially for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The anticipation builds for the FDA's approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, which will mark a first for a psychedelic drug in mainstream medicine.

This shows a woman with a swirly background.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 11, 2023·6 min read

Debunking Myths: Cannabis Compound is Not A Psychedelic

Recent research has debunked claims that THC-O-acetate, a cannabinoid compound, has psychedelic effects similar to LSD or psilocybin. The study surveyed nearly 300 participants' experiences with the compound and found no strong evidence to support the supposed psychedelic effect.

This shows a woman's face and psychedelic swirls.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 14, 2023·6 min read

Psychedelics Unlock Learning Windows in the Brain

Researchers discovered a unique property of psychedelic drugs: their ability to reopen "critical periods" in the brain, times when the brain is highly susceptible to environmental learning signals. These periods, usually associated with skills development like language learning, are reopened by psychedelics for different lengths of time.

This shows a woman with psychedelic images around her.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 16, 2023·5 min read

Harnessing Psychedelics for Mental Health

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the prescription of MDMA and psilocybin by authorized psychiatrists for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. This decision, a first worldwide, has sparked a debate among experts. While some hail it as a breakthrough for patients unresponsive to conventional therapies, others express concerns about its implementation.

This shows a head and brain made out of a mushroom.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 12, 2023·5 min read

Psychedelic Users’ Trust Puzzle: Untangling Information Sources

In the midst of a Psychedelic Renaissance, researchers examined where people using psychedelics obtain their information. The study reveals users typically consult diverse sources outside mainstream health and medical systems, with their own experiences being the most common source. They found that users trust information from scientific journals, psychedelic non-profits, and university researchers the most, while government agencies and pharmaceutical companies are the least trusted. This study could inform policy and public health strategies to bridge the information trust gap and promote safe psychedelic use.