LiveScience

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, reduces the synchronicity within a brain network responsible for reflection and the sense of self.

Magic mushrooms temporarily 'dissolve' brain network responsible for sense of self

Researchers got a closer look at exactly how psilocybin trips out the brain. In a new study, they found that the psychedelic drug can cause widespread alterations in brain activity, especially in the areas that govern our sense of self. The findings should give us more insight into how psilocybin and similar substances can be used to treat mental health disorders like depression.

We Can Now See How Psilocybin Changes the Brain

Inside your skull, your brain hums along with its own unique pattern of activity, a neural fingerprint that’s yours and yours alone. A heavy dose of psilocybin temporarily wipes the prints clean. The psychedelic drug psilocybin dramatically changes how collections of nerve cells work in the brain, eliminating normal...

Psilocybin temporarily dissolves brain networks

ScienceAlert


Once maligned for their psychedelic properties, magic mushrooms are increasingly attracting attention for their same mind-altering potential as a therapy for a wide variety of mental health issues.



					
			

Yet surprisingly little is known about the diverse neurological effects of the fungus's psychoactive compound, psilocybin, making it difficult to predict how the drug might ultimately benefit the community as a medicine.
A study led by Washington University School of Medicine psychiatrist Joshua Siegel tracked brain changes in seven healthy adults before, during, and after taking a high dose of  psilocybin, identifying disruptions in connectivity that persisted for weeks in some areas of...

Magic Mushrooms 'Trip' Your Brain Out of Sync For Weeks, Study Finds

Connecticut Public

In the name of science, Dr. Nico Dosenbach had scanned his own brain dozens of times. But this was the first time he'd taken a mind-bending substance before sliding into the MRI tunnel. "I was, like, drifting deeper into weirdness," he recalls. "I didn't know where I was at all....

A scientist took a psychedelic drug — and watched his own brain 'fall apart'

A neuroimaging study has revealed differences in brain activity between cannabis users and nonusers during cognitive tasks that involve switching behavior based on changing task requirements. Cannabis users exhibited weaker neural responses during these switches compared to nonusers, although both groups performed equally well on the tasks. This research was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

Cannabis users have altered patterns of brain activity when switching tasks

Medical News Today

A new slow-release tablet form of ketamine, which can be safely taken at home, could help treat severe depression, according to a clinical trial.

At-home ketamine tablet may alleviate symptoms of severe depression, trial finds

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Carol Perez

There are lots of places in the US where you don’t necessarily need a car. There might be good public transportation and/or your area might be walkable, but for others, this might not be the case.

Free Car Programs: 16 Ways to Get a Car Without Paying

A loss of controlled inhibition of overly excited brain cells might explain how a common knock-out anesthesia drug works. A new animal study led by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that propofol, a sedative used to safely lull people into unconsciousness for medical procedures, disrupts the brain's normal ability to regain control of highly excitable neurons.

Common Sedative Could Break Consciousness by Tipping Your Brain Into Chaos

Researchers analyzed data from patients with treatment-resistant depression given ketamine or electroconvulsive therapy. Those with less severe depression had better outcomes with ketamine compared with ECT. Individuals with moderate to less severe treatment-resistant depression may benefit from treatment with ketamine instead of electroconvulsive therapy, according to research from JAMA Network...

Ketamine may be better option than ECT for less severe treatment-resistant depression

The following is a summary of “Dopamine signaling enriched striatal gene set predicts striatal dopamine synthesis and physiological activity in vivo,” published in the April 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Sportelli et al. The genetic basis of schizophrenia involves multiple pathways related to synaptic function, but how these...

Understanding Brain Dopamine Pathways and Schizophrenia Genetics

A new mouse study uncovered a previously unknown route between the brain and peripheral nerves that could explain the link between aura symptoms and migraine headaches.

'This is what drives the migraine headache': Scientists uncover 'missing link' in why some migraines happen

The Healthy 

In a July 2023 Gallup survey, 62% of US adults reported drinking alcohol, while just under 20% of that group reported sometimes drinking more than they should. The link between alcohol consumption and brain health is a growing concern, especially considering projections that dementia rates could triple by 2050. Is alcohol part of the growing dementia problem—and if so, is the damage to your brain too far gone to try to correct?

Alcohol and Dementia: Can You Reverse Drinking’s Damage to Your Brain? Here’s an Expert Neurology Doctor’s Answer

Minnesota State

Fox News

Scientists at Mayo Clinic say they have identified a new type of memory loss that is very similar to Alzheimer’s disease, but doesn’t progress as quickly and has a “better prognosis."

Mayo Clinic finds new type of memory loss that’s often mistaken for Alzheimer’s

A new study involving almost 5,500 people suggests that long-term benzodiazepine use may shrink parts of the brain involved in memory and mood regulation.

Benzos like Xanax may shrink the brain in the long term, study hints

A newly discovered communication pathway linking far-flung nerve centers within the brain and skull, and the body beyond, could provide a new target to stop migraine pain in its tracks. Researchers have long tried to pinpoint where migraines begin in the brain, and how these one-sided, nauseating headaches induce pain...

A New Pathway Found in The Brain Could Help Spell The End of Migraines

The ovaries are involved in far more than just reproduction. The two oval-shaped glands that float on either side of the uterus don't just produce and release eggs, they also pump out hormones that help keep a person's heart, bones, brain, and immune system healthy as they age. A new...

Losing Both Ovaries Could Come at a Serious Cost to The Brain, Researchers Find

Wyoming State

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WyoFile

Caitlin Tan wanted to breed her childhood horse, JP, because she’s been “amazing” — the type of animal any equestrian would be lucky to have once in a lifetime. Having access to coveted bloodlines increased the allure. Via the Miller Ranch, she could pair her 18-year-old mare with a stud descendent of Playboy’s Buck Fever.

Cream of the crop: a cremello foal is born in Wyoming

Some degree of cognitive decline—generally affecting thinking speed and attention span—is a normal part of aging. Research shows that age-related physical changes to certain areas of the brain, including the hippocampus and frontal and temporal lobes, may contribute to the issue. These changes are generally subtle, however, and don’t greatly affect quality of life. In fact, some areas of cognition, including vocabulary and verbal reasoning, may even improve as we get older.

Certain Nutrients Appear to Slow Brain Aging

Total Apex Sports & Entertainment

Conflicts are inevitable in life as we have different opinions. Some zodiac signs are good at arguing while others strive to create harmony and avoid arguments. Yet, conflict resolution is a crucial skill at home and work. It helps people live peacefully and in unity.

5 Zodiac Signs Who Are Most Likely to Win Arguments

NewsBreak

Psychedelic Trips From Psilocybin a Result of Disruptions to the Brain Network

People who consume psilocybin-containing mushrooms — otherwise known as magic mushrooms — typically undergo a surreal experience in which their sense of space, time and self...

Psychedelic Trips From Psilocybin a Result of Disruptions to the Brain Network

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