Benoit Ozenne

Benoit Ozenne is a neuroimaging researcher who has played a substantive role in contemporary human psychedelic research, particularly studies probing the pharmacology and brain correlates of psilocybin. Ozenne has contributed to multimodal investigations combining PET receptor quantification, cerebral blood flow measures and resting-state functional MRI to characterise how psilocybin, and its blockade by agents such as ketanserin, modulates central 5-HT2A receptor binding, cerebral perfusion and network connectivity in healthy volunteers.

His work has helped link objective biological measures (for example, neocortical 5-HT2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels) with acute subjective phenomena (mystical-type and temporal distortions) and with longer-term outcomes such as increases in trait mindfulness and persistent changes in functional connectivity. Ozenne’s publications reflect an emphasis on rigorous neuroimaging methodology and on integrating receptor-level pharmacology with behavioural and phenomenological measures, often in collaboration with groups specialising in PET and psychopharmacology (e.g. Fisher, Knudsen and Budtz-Jørgensen).