Misc. news stories

Microdoses of LSD enhance neural complexity, study finds
2nd April 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A recent study has shown that even very low doses of LSD can enhance the complexity of brain activity, a finding that might have significant implications for our understanding of consciousness and possibly for therapeutic applications.

Cern: Scientists search for mysterious ghost particles
26th March 2024 | bbc.co.uk | Humans, Misc., Weird

Some physicists have long suspected that mysterious ‘ghost’ particles in the world around us could greatly advance our understanding of the true nature of the Universe.

The neuroscience of groove: Why certain rhythms make us want to dance
25th March 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A recent study published in Science Advances sheds light on why certain rhythms make us want to dance more than others. By analyzing brain activity and the sensation known as ‘groove,’ researchers discovered that a rhythm of moderate complexity triggers the highest desire to move.

Promising results found as scientists probe a major hurdle in psychedelic therapy research
19th March 2024 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A recent study examined the role of patient expectations in influencing the outcomes of treatments with psilocybin, a psychedelic substance, compared to escitalopram, a widely prescribed antidepressant. Contrary to what some might expect, the study did not find a significant link between patients’ expectations and their actual responses to psilocybin therapy.

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.

Miscellaneous news stories.