Back to journals
Academic Journal

PNAS

9 Papers Indexed in Blossom

Published Papers

Open Accessindividual

Prediction of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and thought disturbance symptoms following psychedelic use

This prospective cohort study (n=654 start, n=212 end) investigated delusional ideation, magical thinking, and HPPD symptoms in participants before and after planned psychedelic use. Results showed reduced delusional ideation after one month, no changes in magical thinking, and HPPD-like effects in 30% of participants (though rarely distressing at <1%), with younger age, female gender, psychiatric history, and baseline trait absorption predicting HPPD-like effects.

Published
Journal
PNAS
Authors
Zhou, K., De Wied, D., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Kettner, H., Fleming, S.
Open Accessindividual

Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI

In a within-subject, placebo-controlled EEG–fMRI study of 20 volunteers, IV DMT produced robust increases in global functional connectivity, network disintegration and desegregation, and a compression of the principal cortical gradient. These imaging changes tracked subjective intensity, correlated with PET-derived 5‑HT2A receptor maps and EEG alterations, supporting a predominant action of DMT on the transmodal association cortex rich in 5‑HT2A expression.

Published
Journal
PNAS
Authors
Timmermann, C., Roseman, L., Haridas, S., Rosas, F. E., Luan, L., Kettner, H., Martell, J., Erritzoe, D., Tagliazucchi, E., Pallavicini, C., Girn, M., Alamia, A., Leech, R., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Raichle, M.
Paywallindividual

Harnessing psilocybin: antidepressant-like behavioral and synaptic actions of psilocybin are independent of 5-HT2R activation in mice

Psilocybin produces rapid antidepressant-like behavioural effects and enhances synaptic connectivity in mouse brain regions involved in reward and emotion. These therapeutic and synaptic actions occur despite blockade of prohallucinatory 5‑HT2A receptors, suggesting antidepressant mechanisms can be dissociated from its perceptual effects.

Published
Journal
PNAS
Authors
Hesselgrave, N., Troppoli, T. A., Wulff, A. B., Cole, A. B., Thompson, S. M.
Open Accessindividual

Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems

The authors present a multimodal neuroimaging framework demonstrating fundamental principles of bidirectional coupling between whole-brain neuronal dynamics and neurotransmitter systems, and use it to causally link 5‑HT2A receptor stimulation by psilocybin to observed functional brain effects in healthy humans. This approach offers a mechanistic basis for understanding how serotonergic modulation may underlie psilocybin’s therapeutic potential in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Published
Journal
PNAS
Authors
Kringelbach, M. L., Cruzat, J., Cabral, J., Knudsen, G. M., Carhart-Harris, R., Whybrow, P. C., Logothetis, N. K., Deco, G.
Paywallindividual

Transformative experience and social connectedness mediate the mood-enhancing effects of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings

Across six multiday mass gatherings in the US and UK with over 1,200 participants, psychedelic use was significantly associated with increased positive mood, an effect sequentially mediated by self‑reported transformative experiences and heightened social connectedness. These relationships remained after controlling for demographics and other psychoactive substances and were particularly pronounced for use within the preceding 24 hours.

Published
Journal
PNAS
Authors
Forstmann, M., Yudkin, D. A., Prosser, A. M. B., Heller, S. M.
Open Accessindividual

Effective connectivity changes in LSD-induced altered states of consciousness in humans

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study using spectral dynamic causal modelling of resting-state fMRI, the authors show that LSD alters effective connectivity within cortico–striato–thalamo–cortical circuits by increasing thalamus→posterior cingulate connectivity via serotonin 2A (5‑HT2A) receptor activation and decreasing ventral striatum→thalamus connectivity independently of 5‑HT2A. These results support the thalamic filter model of psychedelic action and advance mechanistic understanding relevant to therapeutic development.

Published
Journal
PNAS
Authors
Preller, K. H., Razi, A., Zeidman, P., Stämpfli, P., Friston, K. J., Vollenweider, F. X.

Quick Facts

Papers Indexed
9
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Website
Visit