On the varieties of conscious experiences: Altered Beliefs Under Psychedelics (ALBUS)

Neuroscience of Consciousness, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 2025(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract How is it that psychedelics so profoundly impact brain and mind? According to the model of “Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics” (REBUS), 5-HT2a agonism thought help relax prior expectations, thus making room for new perspectives patterns. Here, we introduce an alternative (but largely compatible) perspective, proposing REBUS effects may primarily correspond a particular potentially pivotal) regime very high levels receptor agonism. Depending on both variety contextual factors specific neural systems being considered, suggest opposite also occur in which synchronous activity becomes more powerful, with accompanying “Strengthened (SEBUS) effects. Such SEBUS are consistent enhanced meaning-making observed psychedelic therapy (e.g. psychological insight noetic quality mystical experiences), imposition expectations perception hallucinations pareidolia), delusional thinking sometimes occurs during experiences apophenia, paranoia, engendering inaccurate interpretations events, false memories). With “Altered (ALBUS), propose manifestation vs. vary across dose–response curve signaling. While explore diverse range complex models, our basic idea fundamentally simple: can be understood as kinds waking dream states varying degrees lucidity, similar underlying mechanisms. We further demonstrate utility ALBUS by providing neurophenomenological models focusing mechanisms conscious perceptual synthesis, dreaming, episodic memory mental simulation.

Language: Английский

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Psychedelic Ego Dissolution: A Philosophical and Qualitative Analysis

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Psychedelics Align Brain Activity with Context

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 11, 2025

Abstract Psychedelics can profoundly alter consciousness by reorganising brain connectivity; however, their effects are context-sensitive. To understand how this reorganisation depends on the context, we collected and comprehensively analysed largest psychedelic neuroimaging dataset to date. Sixty-two adults were scanned with functional MRI EEG during rest naturalistic stimuli (meditation, music, visual), before after ingesting 19 mg of psilocybin. Half participants ranked experience among five most meaningful lives. Under psilocybin, signals recorded eyes-closed conditions became similar those an eyes-open condition. This change manifested as increase in global connectivity associative regions a decrease sensory areas. We used machine learning directly link subjective psychedelics neural activity patterns characterised low-dimensional embeddings. show that psilocybin reorganised these trajectories into cohesive structured context quality experience, stronger self- boundary-related effects–which linked day-after mindset changes—leading more distinct representations. induces state ‘embeddedness’ arises when networks usually segregate internal external processing coherently integrate, aligning dynamics context. corresponded profound transformations perception self-boundaries, reducing distinction between self environment. Embeddedness serves bridging framework for understanding both therapeutic psychedelics. These findings provide new account large-scale neurocognitive demonstrate utility using methods assessing state- context-dependent association psychological outcomes.

Language: Английский

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Effective Connectivity of Thalamocortical Interactions Following d-Amphetamine, LSD, and MDMA Administration

Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(5), P. 522 - 532

Published: July 31, 2023

While the exploration of serotonergic psychedelics as psychiatric medicines deepens, so does pressure to better understand how these compounds act on brain. We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design and administered lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), d-amphetamine in 25 healthy participants. By employing spectral dynamic causal modeling, we mapped substance-induced changes effective-connectivity between thalamus different cortex types (unimodal vs. transmodal) derived from previous study resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Due distinct pharmacological modes action three substances, were able investigate specific effects mainly driven by neurotransmitter systems thalamocortical corticothalamic interactions. Compared placebo, all substances increased unimodal cortices, whereas influence cortices was reduced. These results indicate bottom-up decreased top-down information flow some cortices. However, for amphetamines, found opposite when examining with transmodal covering parts salience network. Intriguingly, LSD both indicating breach hierarchical organization ongoing brain activity. Results advance our knowledge concerning refine current models aiming explain underlying neurobiological processes.

Language: Английский

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Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Potential Synergies

Mindfulness, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(9), P. 2111 - 2123

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Abstract Objectives The mindfulness-informed intervention that has so far received the most attention as an adjunct to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), but little remains known about potential synergies between mindfulness-based interventions such Mindfulness-Based Cognitive (MBCT). This paper examines evaluates therapeutic compatibility of MBCT with psychotherapy, their synergies. Methods study represents a narrative review current literature on MBCT. Results We demonstrate how targets core processes including acceptance, being present, concentration, decentering embracing difficulties — outline why strengthening these capacities systematic meditation training may prove invaluable during preparation, dosing integration phases psychotherapy. Conclusions MBCT’s emphasis in mindfulness fostering nonjudgmental presence aligns well states consciousness induced by psychedelics, highlighting its enhance various stages both psychedelic experience subsequent integration. By equipping individuals effective cognitive restructuring techniques, offer advantages beyond those provided ACT, ability skillfully navigate manage challenging experiences can emerge different suggests unique approach complement ways ACT not fully address, particularly context handling experiences.

Language: Английский

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Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) for the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

CNS Drugs, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(9), P. 733 - 754

Published: Aug. 21, 2023

Language: Английский

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Resetting the Hippocampal Buffer: A Neurocognitive Account of Psychedelic Therapy for Anxiety-Related Psychopathology

Published: May 26, 2024

Psychedelics (hallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists such as psilocybin) are gaining recognition for their potential to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety-related psychopathology. Despite early promising results, the mechanisms by which psychedelic therapy alleviates anxiety not well understood. Here, we review neural and cognitive underlying psychopathology impact psychedelics on these mechanisms. This culminates in novel neurocognitive model how promote long-term anxiolysis. We conceptualize case contextual information provided hippocampus entrains amygdala salience network bias processing toward that “refills” perpetuates this cycle, due expression excitatory inhibitory neurons cortex hippocampus, respectively. acutely free cortical networks from hippocampal-dependent constraints part through respectively, while intrinsic plasticity and/or psychedelic-mediated allows “resetting hippocampal buffer.” As acute effects wane, increased may enable adaptively integrate into frame is less biased or constrained prior aversive conditioning, thus promoting an overall reduction anxious thoughts appraisals. end discussing challenges anxiety, can increase suggest directions future research determine optimal treatment paths informed neuroscience.

Language: Английский

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A virtual clinical trial of psychedelics to treat patients with disorders of consciousness

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 19, 2024

Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS), have limited treatment options. Recent research suggests that psychedelic drugs, known for their complexity-enhancing properties, could be promising treatments DoC. This study uses whole-brain computational models to explore this potential. We created individualised DoC patients, optimised with empirical fMRI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data, simulated administration LSD psilocybin. used an in-silico perturbation protocol distinguish between different states consciousness, DoC, anaesthesia, state, assess dynamical stability brains patients pre- post-psychedelic simulation. Our findings indicate psilocybin shift patients' closer criticality, a greater effect in MCS patients. In UWS response correlates structural connectivity, while it aligns baseline functional connectivity. virtual clinical trial lays foundation using psychedelics highlights future role modelling drug discovery personalised medicine.

Language: Английский

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Psychedelics and fNIRS neuroimaging: exploring new opportunities

Neurophotonics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10(01)

Published: Dec. 2, 2022

In this Outlook paper, we explain to the optical neuroimaging community as well psychedelic research great potential of using with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) further explore changes in brain activity induced by psychedelics. We why believe now is time exploit momentum current resurgence on effects psychedelics and increasing progress popularity fNIRS technique establish research. With article, hope contribute development.

Language: Английский

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Attention

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 94 - 129

Published: Oct. 19, 2023

Abstract This chapter presents a unifying theory of the psychedelic experiences induced by psychedelics and meditation. Both meditation are widely reported to 'expand’ awareness, and, given close relationship between awareness attention, argues that natural target analysis is attentional system. In case meditation, this especially clear since many meditative practices involve training. contrast, less clear. partly due limitations on empirical research, but more importantly, because regularly induce impairments performance. However, we need distinguish performance tasks from other qualities attention. The then proposes disrupt system, impairing but, at same time, freeing up resources, thus creating an surplus facilitates expansions awareness.

Language: Английский

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