Misc. news stories

Researchers asked 50 people to draw maps of the spaces they remembered encountering during near-death experiences, an intriguing pattern emerged: The geometry of those spaces appeared to be linked to the colors people recalled seeing. The research has been published in Frontiers in Psychology.

Ketamine and MDMA treatment were associated with changes in DNA methylation, a chemical modification that can influence gene activity, at genes linked to neuroplasticity and immune processes, according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry. The changes were measured in blood and saliva samples from people treated for depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.

It was long assumed to be a product of Vincent van Gogh’s rich imagination – but scientific sleuthing now suggests The Starry Night may be based on a real dawn sky. Researchers say the celestial bodies depicted in the famous painting match the sky the Dutch artist may have seen on about 22 July 1889, a month later than the usual date given for the work.

In addition to helping people with stress and mental health, high ventilation breathwork is also reported to induce altered states of consciousness…In a new study published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, researchers found evidence that could explain how these mysterious side effects emerge.

A recent study found that rapid-acting antidepressants like ketamine and psychedelics may relieve depression by regulating specific immune system pathways in the body and brain. The research suggests that rebalancing a precise set of immune signaling molecules can predict how well a patient will respond to treatment. These findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

A longitudinal study of people attending ayahuasca retreats found that those with higher levels of resilience before the retreat tended to report somewhat more intense challenging experiences during their ayahuasca ceremonies. More resilient participants also showed a stronger link between these difficult experiences and searching for meaning in life a month later. The paper was published in Psychedelic Medicine.

Combining the psychedelic brew ayahuasca with specialized psychotherapy may help ease the severe psychological pain that follows the loss of a close family member. An exploratory clinical trial published in Scientific Reports found that participants receiving this combined treatment experienced greater reductions in grief severity than those receiving therapy alone or no treatment

“At its deepest level, this research is not only asking whether out-of-body experiences are real. It is asking what we mean by ‘real’ in the first place, and whether our current understanding of reality is broad enough to account for everything human consciousness can experience.” The findings have been published in Explore.

Until now, scientists have concentrated on reading the message: its genetic letters, the length of each fragment, and where in the genome it came from. A new preprint study suggests that how the message is folded could matter too.

New research suggests that pairing a brief form of couples therapy with MDMA can lead to large improvements in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and relationship satisfaction for veterans and their partners. The preliminary findings, published in Journal of Traumatic Stress, provide evidence that these benefits occur even when only the diagnosed veteran receives the medication.

Recent research suggests that giving mice a compound found in magic mushrooms before chemotherapy can prevent the debilitating nerve damage that often accompanies cancer treatment. The findings indicate that psilocybin protects nerve fibers by keeping their cellular powerhouses moving and functioning properly. The study was published in Science.

A psychedelic best known for its effects on the brain may also protect peripheral nerves from chemotherapy damage, early research suggests. A new mouse study, published Thursday (Sept. 3) in the journal Science, suggests that psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in “magic mushrooms,” may help prevent this painful and sometimes permanent side effect of chemotherapy, known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Two doses of the psychedelic compound psilocybin can reverse signs of depression and anxiety in rats exposed to chronic stress. The substance appears to work by encouraging the growth of new brain cells and normalizing stress hormone levels. The research was published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.

For those living in the shadow of mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, finding a way forward can sometimes feel impossible – especially when conventional treatments have offered little succor…But now, results from the first state-regulated psilocybin program in the US suggest the drug could offer a glimmer of hope beyond the confines of clinical trials. The results have been published in JAMA Network Open.

A new study published in Human Brain Mapping suggests that a single high dose of psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” changes how information flows through specific brain circuits up to a month later.

A new study published in Neuroscience Bulletin suggests that mescaline, a chemical found in certain cacti that can cause hallucinations, may alter how the brain responds to incoming sensory information.