#psilocybin — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #psilocybin, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: July 30, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Neuroscientists just upended a core assumption about how psychedelics alter brain function
Recent research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that psychedelic substances change how brain activity travels across the surface of the brain. The study provides evidence that drugs like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA reliably reduce the flow of information traveling up into a core brain network associated with self-reflection. These findings offer a new biological explanation for both the therapeutic potential and the psychological risks of using psychedelics to treat mental health conditions.
The default mode network is a collection of interconnected brain regions that are highly active when a person is resting and thinking about themselves. Scientists link this network to introspection, daydreaming, and maintaining a rigid sense of self. In many mental health disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, the default mode network tends to function abnormally. Because of this connection, researchers want to know exactly how potential psychiatric treatments impact this specific network.
“Psychedelic use is growing faster than our understanding of how these drugs impact the brain, particularly at the level of large-scale brain networks,” said Adam Pines, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University, who led the study alongside the study’s senior author, Leanne M. Williams. “Clinically, these unresolved questions limit our ability to know which patients are likely to benefit from psychedelic treatments, and which are at risk of harm.”
Previous studies usually measured brain activity as if it were fixed in place. They looked at average activity in stationary regions over time instead of tracking how signals physically move across the brain tissue.
Brain activity constantly travels in specific directions, either from lower-level sensory areas up to higher-level thinking areas, or vice versa. The upward movement is called bottom-up processing, which involves reacting to basic sensory input. The downward movement is known as top-down processing, where the brain applies past experiences and expectations to interpret incoming information.
“Existing theories on how psychedelics work tend to disagree on a core point: whether psychedelics increase or decrease ‘bottom-up’ brain activity (activity moving from lower-order to higher-order brain areas),” Pines said. “From our perspective, this core premise had not been systematically tested.”
To test this premise, the researchers adapted an analytical method called optical flow. This technique is typically used in computer vision to track the movement of physical objects across video frames. By applying this technique to brain scans, the researchers could evaluate the directional flow of brain activity frame by frame, capturing the exact movement of signals across the cortical surface.
The researchers combined data from four independent studies to test how different psychedelics impact brain activity flow. “Drawing conclusive evidence from psychedelic studies is notoriously difficult,” Pines said. “We tried to establish our results beyond reasonable doubt by replicating our findings across nine different case-control comparisons, involving four datasets and two completely different neuroimaging technologies.”
The first three studies involved human participants who received a specific drug and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. This type of brain scan, often called fMRI, measures changes in blood flow to detect active brain areas. Before running their optical flow analysis, the authors masked out segments of data interrupted by head motion to ensure their measurements were highly accurate.
In the first study, fourteen healthy adult participants received either a placebo, eighty milligrams of MDMA, or one hundred and twenty milligrams of MDMA. MDMA is a synthetic substance that alters mood and perception. Participants completed multiple scanning sessions across different days, allowing researchers to compare their brain activity with and without the active drug.
The second study evaluated the effects of psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms. Six healthy participants underwent numerous fMRI scans. During some sessions, they received twenty-five milligrams of psilocybin. On other days, they received either no drug or an active placebo called methylphenidate, a stimulant medication that mimics the physical arousal caused by psilocybin.
The third study focused on LSD, a powerful chemical that alters perception and thought. Eighteen healthy participants received an intravenous infusion of either LSD or a saline placebo. Following a short acclimatization period, they completed about one hour of fMRI scanning to capture their brain activity under the influence of the substance.
The fourth study involved an entirely different species and measurement technique. Fourteen mice were administered LSD, a sedative called diazepam, or another sedative called dexmedetomidine. Instead of using fMRI, the scientists measured the mouse brain activity using widefield calcium imaging. This technique uses fluorescent markers to directly observe the electrical activity of neurons across the brain surface, providing a different perspective on brain function.
Across all four datasets, the authors looked at two main features of brain signals moving within the default mode network. First, they calculated the magnitude, which is the total volume and strength of the traveling brain waves. Second, they measured directionality, specifically looking at the proportion of signals traveling in a bottom-up direction from sensory regions into the default mode network.
The researchers found that all the tested psychedelics significantly reduced the overall magnitude of cortical activity propagations in the default mode network. In the first study, MDMA lowered the strength of these traveling signals compared to both placebo and baseline scans. The exact same pattern appeared in the second study for psilocybin and the third study for LSD.
When observing the mice in the fourth study, the authors noticed a similar reduction in signal magnitude after administering LSD. The active sedatives given to the mice produced the opposite effect, increasing the magnitude of brain signal movement. This suggests that the reduction in traveling waves is a specific feature of psychedelics rather than a general effect of taking any psychoactive drug.
In addition to shrinking the magnitude of these signals, psychedelics altered the direction of their travel. The human studies showed that MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD all reduced the percentage of signals moving in a bottom-up direction. Instead of information flowing freely from sensory areas up into the default mode network, the overall balance of activity shifted away from bottom-up processing.
The mouse study replicated this directional shift, as LSD significantly decreased bottom-up propagations in the mouse brains. Interestingly, the psilocybin study showed that this attenuation of bottom-up directionality persisted for days after the initial dosage. Scans taken within two days of the psilocybin sessions still exhibited proportionately fewer bottom-up propagations.
The scientists also checked whether these movement changes were linked to the subjective psychological effects of the drugs. In the human studies, participants filled out comprehensive questionnaires about their experiences. The scientists found that greater reductions in bottom-up signaling correlated with more intense negative feelings, such as the dread of losing one’s sense of self and feelings of impaired control.
The results went against the original expectations of the research team. “How psychedelics impact large-scale brain function is not settled science,” Pines told PsyPost. “Our study challenges one of the field’s core assumptions. Many researchers, myself included, expected psychedelics to increase ‘bottom-up’ activity.”
Pines noted that the actual data told a different story. “Instead, we found the opposite,” Pines said. “However, like any study, there are caveats and limitations that come along with this new evidence.”
One prospective issue is the way the researchers interpreted the data at a broad level. “In our human data, we described a group-level effect rather than something that occurs 100% of the time for every individual every time they ingest psychedelics,” Pines said. “This is a standard practice for human neuroimaging studies, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the impact of psychedelics on individual people can be quite variable.”
The concept of bottom-up processing also comes with its own complexities. “Scientists still don’t fully understand what we call bottom-up activity, or the different ways it can occur,” Pines said. “Analytically, we only measured bottom-up activity in one way rather than comprehensively resolving all possible bottom-up activity in the brain.”
The researchers acknowledge that they had to narrow their focus to run the optical flow analyses. “While we had to be reductionistic to evaluate our questions of interest, there are undoubtedly more nuanced aspects of bottom-up and top-down activity that are yet to be discovered in psychedelic research and neuroscience broadly,” Pines said.
These brain wave changes might explain why psychedelics have specific therapeutic effects. For instance, ruminative depression involves excessive, automatic negative thoughts, which researchers link to an overabundance of bottom-up cortical propagations. By reducing these bottom-up signals, psychedelics might interrupt the automatic negative thought loops associated with depression.
A reduction in bottom-up processing could also pose risks for certain vulnerable populations. People at risk for psychosis already experience impaired bottom-up processing, often relying too heavily on top-down expectations, which can lead to hallucinations. Taking a psychedelic might exacerbate this existing imbalance, providing a biological explanation for why these drugs can trigger psychotic episodes in susceptible individuals.
The researchers plan to expand this analytical approach beyond psychedelics to other chemical compounds. “Our lack of understanding of large-scale brain function is not unique to psychedelic drugs,” Pines said. “Although decades of thorough research have revealed a lot about how alcohol, nicotine, and neurologically-active pharmaceuticals operate on individual neurons, our knowledge of how they impact large-scale brain function is quite limited.”
Applying this knowledge could eventually help doctors provide more personalized medical care. “If we can clarify the impacts of neurologically-active substances broadly, we can better anticipate the effects of any given therapeutic drug on individual psychiatric patients and tailor prescriptions accordingly,” Pines said. “This gives us more confidence in our findings, but doesn’t mean that the question is closed. Further study is still needed.”
The study, “Psychedelics disrupt hierarchical cortical propagations in the default mode network of humans and mice,” was authored by Adam R. Pines, Xue Zhang, John Kochalka, Sam S. Vesuna, Isaac V. Kauvar, Divya Rajasekharan, T. Rick Reneau, Teddy J. Akiki, Laura M. Hack, Joshua S. Siegel, and Leanne M. Williams.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsychedelicsBrainScience #DefaultModeNetwork #BottomUpProcessing #PsychedelicsAndMentalHealth #MDMA #Psilocybin #LSD #NeuroscienceResearch #BrainConnectivity #OpticalFlowNeuroimaging
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DATE: July 30, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Neuroscientists just upended a core assumption about how psychedelics alter brain function
Recent research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that psychedelic substances change how brain activity travels across the surface of the brain. The study provides evidence that drugs like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA reliably reduce the flow of information traveling up into a core brain network associated with self-reflection. These findings offer a new biological explanation for both the therapeutic potential and the psychological risks of using psychedelics to treat mental health conditions.
The default mode network is a collection of interconnected brain regions that are highly active when a person is resting and thinking about themselves. Scientists link this network to introspection, daydreaming, and maintaining a rigid sense of self. In many mental health disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, the default mode network tends to function abnormally. Because of this connection, researchers want to know exactly how potential psychiatric treatments impact this specific network.
“Psychedelic use is growing faster than our understanding of how these drugs impact the brain, particularly at the level of large-scale brain networks,” said Adam Pines, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University, who led the study alongside the study’s senior author, Leanne M. Williams. “Clinically, these unresolved questions limit our ability to know which patients are likely to benefit from psychedelic treatments, and which are at risk of harm.”
Previous studies usually measured brain activity as if it were fixed in place. They looked at average activity in stationary regions over time instead of tracking how signals physically move across the brain tissue.
Brain activity constantly travels in specific directions, either from lower-level sensory areas up to higher-level thinking areas, or vice versa. The upward movement is called bottom-up processing, which involves reacting to basic sensory input. The downward movement is known as top-down processing, where the brain applies past experiences and expectations to interpret incoming information.
“Existing theories on how psychedelics work tend to disagree on a core point: whether psychedelics increase or decrease ‘bottom-up’ brain activity (activity moving from lower-order to higher-order brain areas),” Pines said. “From our perspective, this core premise had not been systematically tested.”
To test this premise, the researchers adapted an analytical method called optical flow. This technique is typically used in computer vision to track the movement of physical objects across video frames. By applying this technique to brain scans, the researchers could evaluate the directional flow of brain activity frame by frame, capturing the exact movement of signals across the cortical surface.
The researchers combined data from four independent studies to test how different psychedelics impact brain activity flow. “Drawing conclusive evidence from psychedelic studies is notoriously difficult,” Pines said. “We tried to establish our results beyond reasonable doubt by replicating our findings across nine different case-control comparisons, involving four datasets and two completely different neuroimaging technologies.”
The first three studies involved human participants who received a specific drug and underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. This type of brain scan, often called fMRI, measures changes in blood flow to detect active brain areas. Before running their optical flow analysis, the authors masked out segments of data interrupted by head motion to ensure their measurements were highly accurate.
In the first study, fourteen healthy adult participants received either a placebo, eighty milligrams of MDMA, or one hundred and twenty milligrams of MDMA. MDMA is a synthetic substance that alters mood and perception. Participants completed multiple scanning sessions across different days, allowing researchers to compare their brain activity with and without the active drug.
The second study evaluated the effects of psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms. Six healthy participants underwent numerous fMRI scans. During some sessions, they received twenty-five milligrams of psilocybin. On other days, they received either no drug or an active placebo called methylphenidate, a stimulant medication that mimics the physical arousal caused by psilocybin.
The third study focused on LSD, a powerful chemical that alters perception and thought. Eighteen healthy participants received an intravenous infusion of either LSD or a saline placebo. Following a short acclimatization period, they completed about one hour of fMRI scanning to capture their brain activity under the influence of the substance.
The fourth study involved an entirely different species and measurement technique. Fourteen mice were administered LSD, a sedative called diazepam, or another sedative called dexmedetomidine. Instead of using fMRI, the scientists measured the mouse brain activity using widefield calcium imaging. This technique uses fluorescent markers to directly observe the electrical activity of neurons across the brain surface, providing a different perspective on brain function.
Across all four datasets, the authors looked at two main features of brain signals moving within the default mode network. First, they calculated the magnitude, which is the total volume and strength of the traveling brain waves. Second, they measured directionality, specifically looking at the proportion of signals traveling in a bottom-up direction from sensory regions into the default mode network.
The researchers found that all the tested psychedelics significantly reduced the overall magnitude of cortical activity propagations in the default mode network. In the first study, MDMA lowered the strength of these traveling signals compared to both placebo and baseline scans. The exact same pattern appeared in the second study for psilocybin and the third study for LSD.
When observing the mice in the fourth study, the authors noticed a similar reduction in signal magnitude after administering LSD. The active sedatives given to the mice produced the opposite effect, increasing the magnitude of brain signal movement. This suggests that the reduction in traveling waves is a specific feature of psychedelics rather than a general effect of taking any psychoactive drug.
In addition to shrinking the magnitude of these signals, psychedelics altered the direction of their travel. The human studies showed that MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD all reduced the percentage of signals moving in a bottom-up direction. Instead of information flowing freely from sensory areas up into the default mode network, the overall balance of activity shifted away from bottom-up processing.
The mouse study replicated this directional shift, as LSD significantly decreased bottom-up propagations in the mouse brains. Interestingly, the psilocybin study showed that this attenuation of bottom-up directionality persisted for days after the initial dosage. Scans taken within two days of the psilocybin sessions still exhibited proportionately fewer bottom-up propagations.
The scientists also checked whether these movement changes were linked to the subjective psychological effects of the drugs. In the human studies, participants filled out comprehensive questionnaires about their experiences. The scientists found that greater reductions in bottom-up signaling correlated with more intense negative feelings, such as the dread of losing one’s sense of self and feelings of impaired control.
The results went against the original expectations of the research team. “How psychedelics impact large-scale brain function is not settled science,” Pines told PsyPost. “Our study challenges one of the field’s core assumptions. Many researchers, myself included, expected psychedelics to increase ‘bottom-up’ activity.”
Pines noted that the actual data told a different story. “Instead, we found the opposite,” Pines said. “However, like any study, there are caveats and limitations that come along with this new evidence.”
One prospective issue is the way the researchers interpreted the data at a broad level. “In our human data, we described a group-level effect rather than something that occurs 100% of the time for every individual every time they ingest psychedelics,” Pines said. “This is a standard practice for human neuroimaging studies, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the impact of psychedelics on individual people can be quite variable.”
The concept of bottom-up processing also comes with its own complexities. “Scientists still don’t fully understand what we call bottom-up activity, or the different ways it can occur,” Pines said. “Analytically, we only measured bottom-up activity in one way rather than comprehensively resolving all possible bottom-up activity in the brain.”
The researchers acknowledge that they had to narrow their focus to run the optical flow analyses. “While we had to be reductionistic to evaluate our questions of interest, there are undoubtedly more nuanced aspects of bottom-up and top-down activity that are yet to be discovered in psychedelic research and neuroscience broadly,” Pines said.
These brain wave changes might explain why psychedelics have specific therapeutic effects. For instance, ruminative depression involves excessive, automatic negative thoughts, which researchers link to an overabundance of bottom-up cortical propagations. By reducing these bottom-up signals, psychedelics might interrupt the automatic negative thought loops associated with depression.
A reduction in bottom-up processing could also pose risks for certain vulnerable populations. People at risk for psychosis already experience impaired bottom-up processing, often relying too heavily on top-down expectations, which can lead to hallucinations. Taking a psychedelic might exacerbate this existing imbalance, providing a biological explanation for why these drugs can trigger psychotic episodes in susceptible individuals.
The researchers plan to expand this analytical approach beyond psychedelics to other chemical compounds. “Our lack of understanding of large-scale brain function is not unique to psychedelic drugs,” Pines said. “Although decades of thorough research have revealed a lot about how alcohol, nicotine, and neurologically-active pharmaceuticals operate on individual neurons, our knowledge of how they impact large-scale brain function is quite limited.”
Applying this knowledge could eventually help doctors provide more personalized medical care. “If we can clarify the impacts of neurologically-active substances broadly, we can better anticipate the effects of any given therapeutic drug on individual psychiatric patients and tailor prescriptions accordingly,” Pines said. “This gives us more confidence in our findings, but doesn’t mean that the question is closed. Further study is still needed.”
The study, “Psychedelics disrupt hierarchical cortical propagations in the default mode network of humans and mice,” was authored by Adam R. Pines, Xue Zhang, John Kochalka, Sam S. Vesuna, Isaac V. Kauvar, Divya Rajasekharan, T. Rick Reneau, Teddy J. Akiki, Laura M. Hack, Joshua S. Siegel, and Leanne M. Williams.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsychedelicsBrainScience #DefaultModeNetwork #BottomUpProcessing #PsychedelicsAndMentalHealth #MDMA #Psilocybin #LSD #NeuroscienceResearch #BrainConnectivity #OpticalFlowNeuroimaging
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"Woman Crippled by Alzheimer’s Resumes Lively Conversations After Psilocybin Mushrooms Unlocked Her Memory
From the May issue of *Frontiers in Neuroscience* comes the truly remarkable case study of a woman crippled by Alzheimer’s recovering speech, bladder control, and motor function after a single dose of psilocybin mushrooms.
Living with Alzheimer’s for a decade and under family supervision for almost as long, the Japanese American woman in her 80s was given 5 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, went into a deep, sweaty sleep, awoke, and launched into an autobiographical tirade for 4 hours.
This was a woman on death’s door from the most common form of neurodegenerative disease. She had, for 5 years, spoken only single syllables, had lost control of her urinary continence, was unable to stand or walk without assistance, couldn’t recognize anyone or much of anything from her past or family, and suffered from severe motor skill dysfunction so that she could neither perform basic grooming nor dress herself.
No details about why the woman was the subject of the experiment have been revealed by media reports, but the 3 research scientists from the Medical Department at Associação Cruz de Ankh, in São Paulo, authors of this observational case study, administered one 5-gram dose of mushrooms containing the psychedelic compound psilocybin—one of the most common found in nature—and documented its effects.
(. . .)
On the one hand, this is clearly a groundbreaking finding. Billions of dollars have been invested into finding a drug that can slow or reverse Alzheimer’s, and most if not all attempts have been met with failure. At the same time, rates of Alzheimer’s disease around the world are increasing, placing an ever larger burden of care on families and society.
(. . .)
The study didn’t include any brain scans, control groups, double-blinding, sensitivity analysis, placebo controls—nor even standardized cognitive tests. In short, it lacked anything that would allow for extrapolation of this totally observational finding beyond what it was: the reported observations of a few people on a single person.
'The findings do not imply disease reversal but suggest that residual functional capacity may persist in late-stage neurodegeneration and may become transiently accessible under specific neuromodulatory conditions,' the authors write.
In other words, everything which seems to be taken away by Alzheimer’s may still be there, and that there exists some chemical key that can unlock it. Is psilocybin that key? Hopefully more, higher-quality research can follow-up on this incredible case study."
-
"Woman Crippled by Alzheimer’s Resumes Lively Conversations After Psilocybin Mushrooms Unlocked Her Memory
From the May issue of *Frontiers in Neuroscience* comes the truly remarkable case study of a woman crippled by Alzheimer’s recovering speech, bladder control, and motor function after a single dose of psilocybin mushrooms.
Living with Alzheimer’s for a decade and under family supervision for almost as long, the Japanese American woman in her 80s was given 5 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, went into a deep, sweaty sleep, awoke, and launched into an autobiographical tirade for 4 hours.
This was a woman on death’s door from the most common form of neurodegenerative disease. She had, for 5 years, spoken only single syllables, had lost control of her urinary continence, was unable to stand or walk without assistance, couldn’t recognize anyone or much of anything from her past or family, and suffered from severe motor skill dysfunction so that she could neither perform basic grooming nor dress herself.
No details about why the woman was the subject of the experiment have been revealed by media reports, but the 3 research scientists from the Medical Department at Associação Cruz de Ankh, in São Paulo, authors of this observational case study, administered one 5-gram dose of mushrooms containing the psychedelic compound psilocybin—one of the most common found in nature—and documented its effects.
(. . .)
On the one hand, this is clearly a groundbreaking finding. Billions of dollars have been invested into finding a drug that can slow or reverse Alzheimer’s, and most if not all attempts have been met with failure. At the same time, rates of Alzheimer’s disease around the world are increasing, placing an ever larger burden of care on families and society.
(. . .)
The study didn’t include any brain scans, control groups, double-blinding, sensitivity analysis, placebo controls—nor even standardized cognitive tests. In short, it lacked anything that would allow for extrapolation of this totally observational finding beyond what it was: the reported observations of a few people on a single person.
'The findings do not imply disease reversal but suggest that residual functional capacity may persist in late-stage neurodegeneration and may become transiently accessible under specific neuromodulatory conditions,' the authors write.
In other words, everything which seems to be taken away by Alzheimer’s may still be there, and that there exists some chemical key that can unlock it. Is psilocybin that key? Hopefully more, higher-quality research can follow-up on this incredible case study."
-
The trip is the therapy: psilocybin's brain changes outlast the psychedelic experience
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The trip is the therapy: psilocybin's brain changes outlast the psychedelic experience
Follow us and never miss a story.
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A single dose of psilocybin produced measurable changes in brain activity and possible changes in brain structure that lasted for up to a month. Participants who experienced the greatest increase in… #science #psilocybin #neuroscience
Posted into FLIPBOARD EXCHANGE FEED 🗞️ @flipboard-exchange-feed-Econopass
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DATE: July 22, 2026 at 12:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Magic mushrooms may reshape the brain long after the trip ends
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
A single dose of psilocybin produced measurable changes in brain activity and possible changes in brain structure that lasted for up to a month. Participants who experienced the greatest increase in flexible, varied brain activity also reported more personal insight and later improvements in well-being. The findings suggest that the psychedelic experience itself may help people break free from entrenched patterns of thinking.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MagicMushrooms #Psilocybin #BrainPlasticity #PsychedelicScience #MentalWellbeing #Neuroplasticity #InsightfulTrips #WellbeingResearch #MentalHealthInnovation #AlteredStatesOfConsciousness
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DATE: July 22, 2026 at 12:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Magic mushrooms may reshape the brain long after the trip ends
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
A single dose of psilocybin produced measurable changes in brain activity and possible changes in brain structure that lasted for up to a month. Participants who experienced the greatest increase in flexible, varied brain activity also reported more personal insight and later improvements in well-being. The findings suggest that the psychedelic experience itself may help people break free from entrenched patterns of thinking.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MagicMushrooms #Psilocybin #BrainPlasticity #PsychedelicScience #MentalWellbeing #Neuroplasticity #InsightfulTrips #WellbeingResearch #MentalHealthInnovation #AlteredStatesOfConsciousness
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DATE: July 22, 2026 at 12:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Magic mushrooms may reshape the brain long after the trip ends
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
A single dose of psilocybin produced measurable changes in brain activity and possible changes in brain structure that lasted for up to a month. Participants who experienced the greatest increase in flexible, varied brain activity also reported more personal insight and later improvements in well-being. The findings suggest that the psychedelic experience itself may help people break free from entrenched patterns of thinking.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MagicMushrooms #Psilocybin #BrainScience #Neuroplasticity #MentalWellbeing #PsychedelicResearch #BrainHealth #CognitiveFlexibility #PersonalGrowth #WellBeingInsights
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DATE: July 22, 2026 at 12:12AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Magic mushrooms may reshape the brain long after the trip ends
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
A single dose of psilocybin produced measurable changes in brain activity and possible changes in brain structure that lasted for up to a month. Participants who experienced the greatest increase in flexible, varied brain activity also reported more personal insight and later improvements in well-being. The findings suggest that the psychedelic experience itself may help people break free from entrenched patterns of thinking.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719040005.htm
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MagicMushrooms #Psilocybin #BrainScience #Neuroplasticity #MentalWellbeing #PsychedelicResearch #BrainHealth #CognitiveFlexibility #PersonalGrowth #WellBeingInsights
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Bitte diese Bundestag-Petition mitzeichnen und boosten!
Neubewertung der Einstufung von #Psilocybin und #Psilocin sowie deren Ester im BtMG vom 17.09.2025
https://epetitionen.bundestag.de/petitionen/_2025/_09/_17/Petition_186771.$$$.a.u.html
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Bitte diese Bundestag-Petition mitzeichnen und boosten!
Neubewertung der Einstufung von #Psilocybin und #Psilocin sowie deren Ester im BtMG vom 17.09.2025
https://epetitionen.bundestag.de/petitionen/_2025/_09/_17/Petition_186771.$$$.a.u.html
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DATE: July 10, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psychedelic use linked to lower likelihood of migraines, twin study finds
URL: https://www.psypost.org/psychedelic-use-linked-to-lower-likelihood-of-migraines-twin-study-finds/
An analysis of Swedish Twin Registry data found that pairs of twins in which at least one twin reported psychedelic use had 50% lower odds of having had migraines compared to twin pairs with no psychedelic use history. Even within pairs of twins, the twin who reported using psychedelics had almost three times lower odds of having had migraines compared to their twin who did not use psychedelics. The paper was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe headaches, often with additional sensory and digestive symptoms. The pain is commonly throbbing or pulsating and may affect only one side of the head, although it can occur on both sides. Attacks often worsen with physical activity and may last from several hours to several days.
Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and sensitivity to smells are common accompanying symptoms. Some people experience an aura before or during the headache, which may include flashing lights, blind spots, tingling, speech difficulty, or other temporary neurological symptoms.
Migraine is thought to involve changes in brain activity, nerve signaling, and blood vessels, with genetic factors playing an important role. Common triggers include stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, skipped meals, dehydration, alcohol, certain foods, and changes in weather, although triggers differ among individuals.
Otto Simonsson, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and colleagues evaluated the association between psychedelic use and migraine history. They note that some previous studies have indicated that psychedelic substances such as psilocybin (the active substance in “magic mushrooms”) and LSD show promise in the treatment of migraine. Some recent epidemiological studies partially replicated these findings on the potential effects of psychedelics on migraines and other headache disorders. The researchers wanted to see whether these findings held in samples of twins, which helps control for genetic and environmental factors.
The study authors combined data from three Swedish twin cohorts participating in the Swedish Twin Registry. These datasets included information on self-reported psychedelic use and migraine history. One group of twins was born between 1992 and 2005, the second group included twins born between 1985 and 1992, and the third group were twins born between 1958 and 1985.
Across all three groups, 50,726 participants answered questions about their past use of psilocybin or LSD. Of these, 47,452 also answered questions about their migraine history.
Results showed that there were 1,287 twins who reported using psilocybin or LSD, representing 2.5% of the sample. Among these, 420 were monozygotic (identical) twins. The researchers identified 271 identical twin pairs that differed in psychedelic use (one twin used psychedelics, the other did not), and 40 twin pairs that differed in both psychedelic use and migraine history.
Overall, the results showed that psychedelic use was associated with lower odds of migraine history. Participants who reported using psychedelics had 24% lower odds of having had migraines compared to participants who did not report using psychedelics. However, this association was only present in men and absent in women.
When identical twin pairs were compared, pairs in which at least one twin reported psychedelic use had 50% lower odds of having had migraines compared to twin pairs where neither twin reported psychedelic use. Within pairs, the difference in odds was even more striking—the twin who reported using psychedelics had almost three times lower odds of having had a migraine compared to the twin who did not. Again, when analyses were repeated on male participants only, results tended to stay the same, but associations were absent in female participants.
“The findings from this twin study suggest that psychedelics may be linked to a lower likelihood of migraine, with potential differences by sex. This warrants further investigation and highlights the importance of sex-specific analyses in future studies,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about migraines. However, it should be noted that the design of this study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results. Because of this, it remains unknown whether it is psychedelic use that reduces the risk of migraine or if it is that people who suffer from migraine are less likely to use illicit drugs. The reliance on self-reported data for medical diagnoses is another limitation.
The paper, “Associations between psychedelic use and migraine history in Swedish twins,” was authored by Otto Simonsson, Sunjuri Sun, Laura W. Wesseldijk, Fredrik Ullén, Walter Osika, and Miriam A. Mosing.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/psychedelic-use-linked-to-lower-likelihood-of-migraines-twin-study-finds/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #psychedelics #migraine #twinstudy #psilocybin #LSD #neurology #migraineprevention #sexdifferences #mentalhealthresearch #JournalofPsychopharmacology
-
DATE: July 10, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psychedelic use linked to lower likelihood of migraines, twin study finds
URL: https://www.psypost.org/psychedelic-use-linked-to-lower-likelihood-of-migraines-twin-study-finds/
An analysis of Swedish Twin Registry data found that pairs of twins in which at least one twin reported psychedelic use had 50% lower odds of having had migraines compared to twin pairs with no psychedelic use history. Even within pairs of twins, the twin who reported using psychedelics had almost three times lower odds of having had migraines compared to their twin who did not use psychedelics. The paper was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of moderate to severe headaches, often with additional sensory and digestive symptoms. The pain is commonly throbbing or pulsating and may affect only one side of the head, although it can occur on both sides. Attacks often worsen with physical activity and may last from several hours to several days.
Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and sensitivity to smells are common accompanying symptoms. Some people experience an aura before or during the headache, which may include flashing lights, blind spots, tingling, speech difficulty, or other temporary neurological symptoms.
Migraine is thought to involve changes in brain activity, nerve signaling, and blood vessels, with genetic factors playing an important role. Common triggers include stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, skipped meals, dehydration, alcohol, certain foods, and changes in weather, although triggers differ among individuals.
Otto Simonsson, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and colleagues evaluated the association between psychedelic use and migraine history. They note that some previous studies have indicated that psychedelic substances such as psilocybin (the active substance in “magic mushrooms”) and LSD show promise in the treatment of migraine. Some recent epidemiological studies partially replicated these findings on the potential effects of psychedelics on migraines and other headache disorders. The researchers wanted to see whether these findings held in samples of twins, which helps control for genetic and environmental factors.
The study authors combined data from three Swedish twin cohorts participating in the Swedish Twin Registry. These datasets included information on self-reported psychedelic use and migraine history. One group of twins was born between 1992 and 2005, the second group included twins born between 1985 and 1992, and the third group were twins born between 1958 and 1985.
Across all three groups, 50,726 participants answered questions about their past use of psilocybin or LSD. Of these, 47,452 also answered questions about their migraine history.
Results showed that there were 1,287 twins who reported using psilocybin or LSD, representing 2.5% of the sample. Among these, 420 were monozygotic (identical) twins. The researchers identified 271 identical twin pairs that differed in psychedelic use (one twin used psychedelics, the other did not), and 40 twin pairs that differed in both psychedelic use and migraine history.
Overall, the results showed that psychedelic use was associated with lower odds of migraine history. Participants who reported using psychedelics had 24% lower odds of having had migraines compared to participants who did not report using psychedelics. However, this association was only present in men and absent in women.
When identical twin pairs were compared, pairs in which at least one twin reported psychedelic use had 50% lower odds of having had migraines compared to twin pairs where neither twin reported psychedelic use. Within pairs, the difference in odds was even more striking—the twin who reported using psychedelics had almost three times lower odds of having had a migraine compared to the twin who did not. Again, when analyses were repeated on male participants only, results tended to stay the same, but associations were absent in female participants.
“The findings from this twin study suggest that psychedelics may be linked to a lower likelihood of migraine, with potential differences by sex. This warrants further investigation and highlights the importance of sex-specific analyses in future studies,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific knowledge about migraines. However, it should be noted that the design of this study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results. Because of this, it remains unknown whether it is psychedelic use that reduces the risk of migraine or if it is that people who suffer from migraine are less likely to use illicit drugs. The reliance on self-reported data for medical diagnoses is another limitation.
The paper, “Associations between psychedelic use and migraine history in Swedish twins,” was authored by Otto Simonsson, Sunjuri Sun, Laura W. Wesseldijk, Fredrik Ullén, Walter Osika, and Miriam A. Mosing.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/psychedelic-use-linked-to-lower-likelihood-of-migraines-twin-study-finds/
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #psychedelics #migraine #twinstudy #psilocybin #LSD #neurology #migraineprevention #sexdifferences #mentalhealthresearch #JournalofPsychopharmacology
-
80-year-old woman with Alzheimer's took mushrooms and started speaking again
https://www.microdos.in/en/research/alzheimers-case-report-psilocybin-speech
Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48858458
#HackerNews #Psilocybin #Healing #Mushrooms #Speech #Recovery
-
80-year-old woman with Alzheimer's took mushrooms and started speaking again
https://www.microdos.in/en/research/alzheimers-case-report-psilocybin-speech
Comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48858458
#HackerNews #Psilocybin #Healing #Mushrooms #Speech #Recovery
-
DATE: July 9, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Luvesilocin: This new psychedelic drug could change how we treat postpartum depression
About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, overall poorer health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide.
But a new treatment moving through the Food and Drug Administration clinical trials process may be key to treating, or even curing, depression and anxiety in postpartum people. It is a newly named psychedelic, luvesilocin. It functions like psilocin, the psychoactive chemical within psilocybin mushrooms. It may be able to positively affect the unique hormonal shifts, brain changes and disconnection that can lead to these conditions like no existing treatments.
In prior studies of psilocybin, researchers have observed rapid improvement in symptoms – and sometimes a cure after a single dose – of conditions such as major depression and PTSD. In a recent FDA Phase 2 study of luvesilocin, we found similar improvements in postpartum depression.
I was the site investigator for the University of Colorado, one of 35 participating sites across the U.S. The study enrolled 84 postpartum women who were within a year of giving birth and ended in May 2025.
I have spent my career as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist contemplating how the prenatal experience shapes lifetime health. I have also followed the psychedelic data closely. I’ve been eager to find evidence-based pregnancy and postpartum applications of psychedelics, given these drugs’ promise in treating other mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety’s impact on moms and babies
One drug that has been studied and enhanced our understanding of the way psychedelics work is MDMA, which is commonly known as ecstasy and causes a euphoric high.
According to peer-reviewed research published by Bessel van der Kolk in 2024, MDMA can lead to improvements in individuals being able to identify, describe and feel their feelings. Other improvements resulting from MDMA assisted therapy include more self-compassion and a broader desire and capacity for connection with others.
Connection, especially the earliest one between a mother and infant, plays one of the most significant roles in providing the foundation for humans to grow and flourish. Postpartum depression is often defined by disconnection and impaired bonding.
Children born to mothers with untreated depression and anxiety have a higher risk of falling behind on early developmental milestones. They may also have behavioral concerns, such as hyperactivity or ADHD, and are more likely to withdraw from social activities. They tend to report somatic complaints, such as body aches and pains in early childhood.
Children of mothers who had depression or anxiety during pregnancy are also at risk of these same conditions as they enter their teenage years. They have nearly twice the risk of these conditions compared to teenagers whose mothers did not have untreated depression and anxiety. This pattern means depression and anxiety can become a multigenerational cycle. But this cycle can be interrupted with adequate treatment and support.
Increased levels of the hormone oxytocin were found by researchers in the blood of depression study participants who were given MDMA, LSD and mescaline, which are all psychedelic drugs. The increase in oxytocin led to more feelings of trust, empathy and connection.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and is released from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. It plays a critical role in birth and infant feeding. It also aids in the wiring and formation of human social brains.
Oxytocin is important in maternal bonding with an infant. Conversely, early childhood stressors, such as a mother suffering from mental illness, reduces oxytocin levels in children. This may be a contributor to adverse mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
In depression studies that involved men, psilocybin did not have as great of an impact as other psychedelic medications on oxytocin production. But there is reason to believe that oxytocin may play a greater role in postpartum patients because it’s levels are higher during birth and lactation than in other phases of life.
FDA study of psilocybin-like medication
In February 2026, the FDA granted luvesilocin breakthrough therapy status. This status is used to speed up the development of promising new medications for serious or life-threatening conditions. The drug received this status because our research found meaningful and rapid reductions in depression scores in those who received the treatment.
In the Phase 2 study, 77% of postpartum women who received a psychedelic dose, 30mg of luvesilocin, had significant improvement in their postpartum depression. Overall, 71% had no symptoms of postpartum depression seven days after the psychedelic session.
The purpose of an FDA Phase 2 study is to determine the effectiveness of an experimental medication on a particular disease or condition. In this case, the study is evaluating luvesilocin’s effect on postpartum depression scores and symptoms. In the group that received the placebo, a microdose of the drug, more than half experienced an improvement in their symptoms, but most still had some symptoms after seven days.
These are much higher response and remission rates than trials of the existing medications used for postpartum depression treatment. Existing treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, and a medication called zuranolone. The latter is the only medication to have specific FDA approval for postpartum depression.
Access to psychedelic treatments
In 2023, the Colorado legislature passed the Natural Medicine Health Act. It offers a legal pathway for people to receive natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms, in therapeutic settings. The first natural medicine healing centers opened in early 2026. Some locations advertise treatments for everything from postpartum depression to birth trauma.
Oregon has a similar state-regulated program. Numerous other states have different pathways toward legal psychedelic-assisted therapies and decriminalization of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Nationally, there was a recent federal executive order to accelerate action on treating serious mental illnesses. The order included mention of the use of psychedelic therapies.
Looking forward
By the end of 2026, Phase 3 of the luvesilocin trial for postpartum depression is slated to begin. Phase 3 trials are conducted to confirm the effectiveness and further evaluate the overall risks and benefits of a new medication. Each phase is an important regulatory step before a medication can be approved and available in clinical settings.
In Phase 3, 200 participants with postpartum depression will be recruited across participating sites. While I’m optimistic about the potential of this research, I believe its value can be established only through rigorous blinded clinical trials, objective data analysis, and conclusions and approval that are fully supported by the evidence.
Phase 3 will also include participants who are still breastfeeding. A study of luvesilocin during lactation in healthy volunteers demonstrated very low levels passed from the mother into breast milk. Thus, this medication would be considered safe for breastfeeding.
Luvesilocin may become a game-changing postpartum depression treatment medication in just a couple more years. On a much larger scale, psychedelic medicine could elevate our collective well-being and happiness, replacing systemic cycles of depression, anxiety, trauma and isolation with connectedness and compassion. These drugs could literally rewire our approach to trauma, addiction and how we relate to one another.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Luvesilocin #PostpartumDepression #PsychedelicTherapy #MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumWellbeing #OxytocinConnection #MDMA #Psilocybin #MentalHealthInnovation #FDAClinicalTrials
-
DATE: July 9, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Luvesilocin: This new psychedelic drug could change how we treat postpartum depression
About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, overall poorer health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide.
But a new treatment moving through the Food and Drug Administration clinical trials process may be key to treating, or even curing, depression and anxiety in postpartum people. It is a newly named psychedelic, luvesilocin. It functions like psilocin, the psychoactive chemical within psilocybin mushrooms. It may be able to positively affect the unique hormonal shifts, brain changes and disconnection that can lead to these conditions like no existing treatments.
In prior studies of psilocybin, researchers have observed rapid improvement in symptoms – and sometimes a cure after a single dose – of conditions such as major depression and PTSD. In a recent FDA Phase 2 study of luvesilocin, we found similar improvements in postpartum depression.
I was the site investigator for the University of Colorado, one of 35 participating sites across the U.S. The study enrolled 84 postpartum women who were within a year of giving birth and ended in May 2025.
I have spent my career as a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist contemplating how the prenatal experience shapes lifetime health. I have also followed the psychedelic data closely. I’ve been eager to find evidence-based pregnancy and postpartum applications of psychedelics, given these drugs’ promise in treating other mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety’s impact on moms and babies
One drug that has been studied and enhanced our understanding of the way psychedelics work is MDMA, which is commonly known as ecstasy and causes a euphoric high.
According to peer-reviewed research published by Bessel van der Kolk in 2024, MDMA can lead to improvements in individuals being able to identify, describe and feel their feelings. Other improvements resulting from MDMA assisted therapy include more self-compassion and a broader desire and capacity for connection with others.
Connection, especially the earliest one between a mother and infant, plays one of the most significant roles in providing the foundation for humans to grow and flourish. Postpartum depression is often defined by disconnection and impaired bonding.
Children born to mothers with untreated depression and anxiety have a higher risk of falling behind on early developmental milestones. They may also have behavioral concerns, such as hyperactivity or ADHD, and are more likely to withdraw from social activities. They tend to report somatic complaints, such as body aches and pains in early childhood.
Children of mothers who had depression or anxiety during pregnancy are also at risk of these same conditions as they enter their teenage years. They have nearly twice the risk of these conditions compared to teenagers whose mothers did not have untreated depression and anxiety. This pattern means depression and anxiety can become a multigenerational cycle. But this cycle can be interrupted with adequate treatment and support.
Increased levels of the hormone oxytocin were found by researchers in the blood of depression study participants who were given MDMA, LSD and mescaline, which are all psychedelic drugs. The increase in oxytocin led to more feelings of trust, empathy and connection.
Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and is released from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. It plays a critical role in birth and infant feeding. It also aids in the wiring and formation of human social brains.
Oxytocin is important in maternal bonding with an infant. Conversely, early childhood stressors, such as a mother suffering from mental illness, reduces oxytocin levels in children. This may be a contributor to adverse mental and physical health outcomes later in life.
In depression studies that involved men, psilocybin did not have as great of an impact as other psychedelic medications on oxytocin production. But there is reason to believe that oxytocin may play a greater role in postpartum patients because it’s levels are higher during birth and lactation than in other phases of life.
FDA study of psilocybin-like medication
In February 2026, the FDA granted luvesilocin breakthrough therapy status. This status is used to speed up the development of promising new medications for serious or life-threatening conditions. The drug received this status because our research found meaningful and rapid reductions in depression scores in those who received the treatment.
In the Phase 2 study, 77% of postpartum women who received a psychedelic dose, 30mg of luvesilocin, had significant improvement in their postpartum depression. Overall, 71% had no symptoms of postpartum depression seven days after the psychedelic session.
The purpose of an FDA Phase 2 study is to determine the effectiveness of an experimental medication on a particular disease or condition. In this case, the study is evaluating luvesilocin’s effect on postpartum depression scores and symptoms. In the group that received the placebo, a microdose of the drug, more than half experienced an improvement in their symptoms, but most still had some symptoms after seven days.
These are much higher response and remission rates than trials of the existing medications used for postpartum depression treatment. Existing treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, known as SSRIs, and a medication called zuranolone. The latter is the only medication to have specific FDA approval for postpartum depression.
Access to psychedelic treatments
In 2023, the Colorado legislature passed the Natural Medicine Health Act. It offers a legal pathway for people to receive natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms, in therapeutic settings. The first natural medicine healing centers opened in early 2026. Some locations advertise treatments for everything from postpartum depression to birth trauma.
Oregon has a similar state-regulated program. Numerous other states have different pathways toward legal psychedelic-assisted therapies and decriminalization of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Nationally, there was a recent federal executive order to accelerate action on treating serious mental illnesses. The order included mention of the use of psychedelic therapies.
Looking forward
By the end of 2026, Phase 3 of the luvesilocin trial for postpartum depression is slated to begin. Phase 3 trials are conducted to confirm the effectiveness and further evaluate the overall risks and benefits of a new medication. Each phase is an important regulatory step before a medication can be approved and available in clinical settings.
In Phase 3, 200 participants with postpartum depression will be recruited across participating sites. While I’m optimistic about the potential of this research, I believe its value can be established only through rigorous blinded clinical trials, objective data analysis, and conclusions and approval that are fully supported by the evidence.
Phase 3 will also include participants who are still breastfeeding. A study of luvesilocin during lactation in healthy volunteers demonstrated very low levels passed from the mother into breast milk. Thus, this medication would be considered safe for breastfeeding.
Luvesilocin may become a game-changing postpartum depression treatment medication in just a couple more years. On a much larger scale, psychedelic medicine could elevate our collective well-being and happiness, replacing systemic cycles of depression, anxiety, trauma and isolation with connectedness and compassion. These drugs could literally rewire our approach to trauma, addiction and how we relate to one another.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Luvesilocin #PostpartumDepression #PsychedelicTherapy #MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumWellbeing #OxytocinConnection #MDMA #Psilocybin #MentalHealthInnovation #FDAClinicalTrials
-
DATE: July 7, 2026 at 09:37AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMESDirect article link at end of text block below.
New 6-month data from the phase 3 COMP006 trial show that COMP360 psilocybin delivers rapid, lasting relief in treatment-resistant depression. https://t.co/JEJw5t5WEh
Here are any URLs found in the article text:
Articles can be found by scrolling down the page at Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news".
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist #psilocybin #treatementresistantdepression #depressionresearch #phase3trial #mentalhealth breakthrough
-
DATE: July 7, 2026 at 09:37AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMESDirect article link at end of text block below.
New 6-month data from the phase 3 COMP006 trial show that COMP360 psilocybin delivers rapid, lasting relief in treatment-resistant depression. https://t.co/JEJw5t5WEh
Here are any URLs found in the article text:
Articles can be found by scrolling down the page at Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news".
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist #psilocybin #treatementresistantdepression #depressionresearch #phase3trial #mentalhealth breakthrough
-
Single dose of #magicmushroom #psychedelic can cause anatomical #brain changes, study finds
Participants took 25mg of #psilocybin, reporting deeper psychological insight and better wellbeing a month later
"We don't yet know what these changes mean, but we do note that overall, people showed positive psychological changes in this study, including improved wellbeing and mental flexibility." said Prof Robin Carhart-Harris, a neurologist at Univ of California, San Francisco.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/05/magic-mushrooms-psychedelic-changes-brain-anatomy-psilocybin -
Single dose of #magicmushroom #psychedelic can cause anatomical #brain changes, study finds
Participants took 25mg of #psilocybin, reporting deeper psychological insight and better wellbeing a month later
"We don't yet know what these changes mean, but we do note that overall, people showed positive psychological changes in this study, including improved wellbeing and mental flexibility." said Prof Robin Carhart-Harris, a neurologist at Univ of California, San Francisco.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/05/magic-mushrooms-psychedelic-changes-brain-anatomy-psilocybin -
Getting the yeast to make Psilocybin:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109671761930401X
#yeast #psilocybin #entheogens -
wow. What a strange world we now live in.
"Brain-imaging research suggests that psilocybin temporarily breaks down the rigid, segregated boundaries that isolate large-scale brain networks from one another. By forcing surviving, under-utilized neural clusters to communicate in entirely new ways, the drug may make buried abilities accessible for a limited time."
https://neurosciencenews.com/psilocybin-memory-alzheimers-30084/
-
wow. What a strange world we now live in.
"Brain-imaging research suggests that psilocybin temporarily breaks down the rigid, segregated boundaries that isolate large-scale brain networks from one another. By forcing surviving, under-utilized neural clusters to communicate in entirely new ways, the drug may make buried abilities accessible for a limited time."
https://neurosciencenews.com/psilocybin-memory-alzheimers-30084/
-
Transient multidomain functional improvement in advanced Alzheimer’s disease following high-dose #psilocybin-containing mushroom administration: a #case #report
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2026.1813281/full
-
Transient multidomain functional improvement in advanced Alzheimer’s disease following high-dose #psilocybin-containing mushroom administration: a #case #report
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2026.1813281/full
-
»Psilocybin mit begleitender Psychotherapie zeigt antidepressiven Effekt über zwölf Monate
Psilocybin mit begleitender Psychotherapie kann bei Menschen mit therapieresistenter Depression zu langfristigen Verbesserungen der depressiven Symptomatik führen. Das zeigt eine jetzt veröffentlichte Langzeitnachbeobachtung des Zentralinstituts für Seelische Gesundheit (ZI), der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin und der MIND Foundation. Die antidepressiven Effekte hielten über einen Zeitraum von bis zu zwölf Monaten an. Nach Angaben der Forschenden handelt es sich um die bislang umfassendste Langzeituntersuchung einer klinischen Studie mit Psychedelika. Die Ergebnisse wurden in der renommierten Fachzeitschrift „Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics“ veröffentlicht.«
https://idw-online.de/de/news872727
🍄🟫⚕️🧠
#Psilocybin #Therapie -
»Psilocybin mit begleitender Psychotherapie zeigt antidepressiven Effekt über zwölf Monate
Psilocybin mit begleitender Psychotherapie kann bei Menschen mit therapieresistenter Depression zu langfristigen Verbesserungen der depressiven Symptomatik führen. Das zeigt eine jetzt veröffentlichte Langzeitnachbeobachtung des Zentralinstituts für Seelische Gesundheit (ZI), der Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin und der MIND Foundation. Die antidepressiven Effekte hielten über einen Zeitraum von bis zu zwölf Monaten an. Nach Angaben der Forschenden handelt es sich um die bislang umfassendste Langzeituntersuchung einer klinischen Studie mit Psychedelika. Die Ergebnisse wurden in der renommierten Fachzeitschrift „Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics“ veröffentlicht.«
https://idw-online.de/de/news872727
🍄🟫⚕️🧠
#Psilocybin #Therapie -
»Kokainabhängigkeit: Psilocybin fördert Abstinenz in Pilotstudie
Die einmalige Gabe von Psilocybin kann offenbar auch bei Menschen mit einer Kokainabhängigkeit, die bisher als kaum therapierbar eingestuft wird, die Erfolgschancen einer kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie verbessern. Das legen die Ergebnisse einer Pilotstudie nahe, über die in JAMA Network Open berichtet wird«
https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/kokainabhangigkeit-psilocybin-fordert-abstinenz-in-pilotstudie-edcf1982-5936-48ac-9e8b-d58ed8e62b08
🍄🟫⚕️🧠
#Psilocybin #Therapie -
»Kokainabhängigkeit: Psilocybin fördert Abstinenz in Pilotstudie
Die einmalige Gabe von Psilocybin kann offenbar auch bei Menschen mit einer Kokainabhängigkeit, die bisher als kaum therapierbar eingestuft wird, die Erfolgschancen einer kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie verbessern. Das legen die Ergebnisse einer Pilotstudie nahe, über die in JAMA Network Open berichtet wird«
https://www.aerzteblatt.de/news/kokainabhangigkeit-psilocybin-fordert-abstinenz-in-pilotstudie-edcf1982-5936-48ac-9e8b-d58ed8e62b08
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#Psilocybin #Therapie -
“People with childhood maltreatment histories, on average, report lower levels of PTSD symptoms, complex PTSD (#CPTSD) symptoms, and internalized shame and higher levels of connectedness to themselves, others, and the world after using psychedelics with therapeutic intent at organized group ceremonies or at raves or other electronic dance music events.”
https://www.psypost.org/taking-psychedelics-at-raves-and-ceremonies-may-help-heal-childhood-trauma/
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“People with childhood maltreatment histories, on average, report lower levels of PTSD symptoms, complex PTSD (#CPTSD) symptoms, and internalized shame and higher levels of connectedness to themselves, others, and the world after using psychedelics with therapeutic intent at organized group ceremonies or at raves or other electronic dance music events.”
https://www.psypost.org/taking-psychedelics-at-raves-and-ceremonies-may-help-heal-childhood-trauma/
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#FDA grants quick review for 3 #psychedelic #drugtrials
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told NBC News that the first psychedelic #drug could be approved in the U.S. as soon as this summer
UK-based biotech company Compass Pathways for a synthetic #psilocybin for treatment-resistant #depression
Usona Institute received a voucher for its work with psilocybin to treat major depressive disorder
New York-based Transcend Therapeutics for its experimental drug #methylone for #PTSD
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-psychedelic-drugs-psilocybin-methylone-review-depression-ptsd-rcna341677 -
#FDA grants quick review for 3 #psychedelic #drugtrials
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told NBC News that the first psychedelic #drug could be approved in the U.S. as soon as this summer
UK-based biotech company Compass Pathways for a synthetic #psilocybin for treatment-resistant #depression
Usona Institute received a voucher for its work with psilocybin to treat major depressive disorder
New York-based Transcend Therapeutics for its experimental drug #methylone for #PTSD
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-psychedelic-drugs-psilocybin-methylone-review-depression-ptsd-rcna341677 -
Magic mushrooms and Alzheimer’s: what one remarkable case can tell us
#Health #Alzheimers #Dementia #Psilocybin #BrainHealth #MagicMushrooms #Neuroscience #MentalHealthResearch #Neuroplasticity #MedicalResearch #MagicMushrooms
https://the-14.com/magic-mushrooms-and-alzheimers-what-one-remarkable-case-can-tell-us/ -
Magic mushrooms and Alzheimer’s: what one remarkable case can tell us
#Health #Alzheimers #Dementia #Psilocybin #BrainHealth #MagicMushrooms #Neuroscience #MentalHealthResearch #Neuroplasticity #MedicalResearch #MagicMushrooms
https://the-14.com/magic-mushrooms-and-alzheimers-what-one-remarkable-case-can-tell-us/ -
Il y a quelques jours sortait un rapport de cas pionnier : Amelioration fonctionnelle multidomaine (Rétablissement de la continence urinaire, Amélioration de la mobilité, récupération de la mémoire contextuelle et de travail, augmentation de l’expressivité émotionnelle) d'une patiente atteinte d'Alzheimer apres l'administration de Psilocybine (souche Enigma).
Laissant penser que des capacités fonctionnelles résiduelles persistent dans les stades avancés de la démence et peuvent être temporairement accessibles sous l’effet de la psilocybine.
J'imagine que, dans le futur, cette piste pourrait se coupler à des anticorps anti-amyloïde, par exemple.
#psilocybin #psychedeliques #psilocybine #alzheimerdisease
www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2026.1813281/full
Cc: @denissalem @from_Otterspace @tcrouzet