Misc. news stories

Psychedelics are about to become a casualty of Oregon’s opioid crisis
18th March 2024 | vox.com | Humans, Misc.

Four years ago, the state decriminalized all drugs. Now it’s trying to course-correct — and might make a mistake in the process.

Psilocybin therapy alters prefrontal and limbic brain circuitry in alcohol use disorder
18th March 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals new insights into how psilocybin-assisted therapy modifies brain function in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). These changes suggest a potential mechanism behind the therapy’s success and could point toward new avenues for treatment.

New research sheds light on psychedelics’ complex relationship to psychosis and mania
15th March 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

In a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers led by Otto Simonsson of Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Clinical Neuroscience have cast new light on the controversial topic of psychedelic drug use among adolescents.

Psilocybin Mushrooms Have Been Growing on Earth Since Dinosaurs Went Extinct
5th March 2024 doubleblindmag.com | Ancient, Animal Life, Earth, Misc.

Psilocybe mushrooms appear to have started producing psilocybin roughly 67 million years ago, right around the dinosaurs’ demise, new research shows.

Politics really is making “bastards of us all,” according to new psychology research
4th March 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A recent study sheds light on the relationship between moral values and political affiliations, revealing that the standards of morality people apply in political contexts may differ significantly from those in personal spheres.

“The Future Is Fungal” – A New Era for Boreal Biodiversity
4th March 2024 scitechdaily.com | Earth, Misc.

Nestled within the photosynthetic, or light-eating, tissue of the boreal trees – and within the bountiful cloud-like lichens and feathery mosses that carpet the ground between them – are fungi. These fungi are endophytes, meaning they live within plants, often in a mutually beneficial arrangement. See the research here.

How 40Hz sensory gamma rhythm stimulation clears amyloid in Alzheimer’s mice
29th February 2024 medicalxpress.com | Humans, Misc.

Studies at MIT and elsewhere are producing mounting evidence that light flickering and sound clicking at the gamma brain rhythm frequency of 40 Hz can reduce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression and treat symptoms in human volunteers as well as lab mice. See the new study in Nature.

New study reveals MDMA’s unique influence on positive social feedback
27th February 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

New research published in Journal of Psychopharmacology provides evidence that the drug MDMA may have the unique ability to enhance emotional responses to positive (but not negative) social interactions. This insight sheds light on the potential of MDMA to influence social perception, opening new avenues for understanding and potentially treating conditions characterized by impaired social processing.

Tiny Doses of LSD Boost Unique Signals in The Human Brain
26th February 2024 | sciencealert.com | Humans, Misc.

Even small doses of LSD could have therapeutic benefits for mental health and task performance, a new study shows.

Germany legalises cannabis, but makes it hard to buy
26th February 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Humans, Misc.

The German parliament has backed a new law to allow the recreational use of cannabis. Under the law, over-18s in Germany will be allowed to possess substantial amounts of cannabis, but strict rules will make it difficult to buy the drug.

New study reveals how common ayahuasca-induced death experiences are and their link to personal transformation
23rd February 2024 | psypost.org | Earth, Humans, Misc.

Two studies of ayahuasca ceremony participants found that at least 50% of these individuals had an ayahuasca-induced personal death experience. These experiences were associated with an increased sense that consciousness will continue after death and increased concerns for the environment. The paper was published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry.

New neuroscience research uncovers the brain’s unique musical processing pathways
20th February 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A new study by researchers at UC San Francisco provides new insight into how the brain processes musical melodies. Through precise mapping of the cerebral cortex, the study uncovered that our brains process music by not only discerning pitch and the direction of pitch changes but also by predicting the sequence of upcoming notes, each task managed by distinct sets of neurons.

Mike Tyson urges Biden to free thousands locked up over cannabis: ‘Right these wrongs’
20th February 2024 | theguardian.com | Humans, Misc.

The former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has urged Joe Biden to follow through on his commitment to “correct our country’s failed approach to marijuana” and give clemency to the thousands of nonviolent cannabis offenders still languishing in federal lockups.

Cannabis may be the gateway out of drug addiction
19th February 2024 newatlas.com | Humans, Misc.

There are dissenting opinions among researchers about whether cannabis is a ‘gateway drug’ that leads people to use other, more dangerous drugs. New research by the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, examined whether using cannabis to manage cravings changed a person’s use of illicit stimulants. The study was published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

Image by: elsaolofsson (Wiki Commons)

Unlocking the mysteries of psychedelics: The remarkable dual effect of psilocybin revealed in new study
19th February 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

New research published in Molecular Psychiatry provides insight into how psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic “magic” mushrooms, influences the brain and behavior. By observing the effects of psilocybin on larval zebrafish, scientists uncovered that it not only stimulates exploratory behavior but also buffers against stress-induced changes in activity patterns.

Cannabis Extract Triggers Death of Deadly Skin Cancer Cells
14th February 2024 | sciencealert.com | Humans, Misc.

A concentrated cannabis extract has shown “remarkable” potential to kill off the most dangerous type of skin cancer. The study was published in Cells.

Miscellaneous news stories.