Science

Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period

Juvenile mice find social experiences more rewarding than do adults. The discovery [is] that psychedelics can re-engage the social neural circuits for varying durations in adults… Gül Dölen, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.; …ibogaine, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin, can reopen the “critical periods” of brain…

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Modern Culture

…setting yourself up for a good trip…

Like cannabis, psychedelic substances have been used across the globe for many purposes. And, like cannabis, psychedelics are relatively safe and have a low chance of dependence. And again, like cannabis they are not without risks, and there are steps that consumers can take to reduce the chance of harm. With cannabis buds, it is…

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Spirituality

Study suggests psychedelics promote positive mental health through increased spirituality and emotion regulation

The study found evidence of a pathway whereby the use of psychedelics increases spirituality, and in turn, leads to better emotion regulation. This improved emotion regulation then appears to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. Study authors Adele Lafrance and her colleagues say that increased spirituality and improvements in emotion regulation have been…

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Psychology

Psychedelic users show greater psychological strengths and improved well-being, study finds

The paper titled “Psychedelics and Psychological Strengths” discusses findings from three studies conducted through online surveys from a total of 3,157 participants. The researchers used controls for demographic variables, subjects’ use of other psychoactive drugs, and their beliefs about the potential benefits of psychedelic substances. The findings revealed that classical psychedelic users have “greater psychological…

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Politics

…community mushrooms in… Colorado

[Colorado] voters passed a referendum in 2022 to decriminalize certain… [naturally-occurring psychedelics] by a wider margin than one to allow grocery stores to carry wine. Denver had done the same a few years prior. In the 2022 election, Colorado passed Proposition 122, which decriminalized the consumption, cultivation and possession of a handful of psychedelic drugs,…

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Psychology

…cities… psychedelic mushrooms… advocates praise…

…a shroom tender… psilocybin is still astoundingly just like cannabis, a schedule one controlled substance… criminal penalties for people who are just trying to help themselves and heal themselves. There’s no reason to get law enforcement involved with any of this. Now, I can see both sides of the argument about the benefit of doing…

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Science

Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB

…psychedelics spurred new growth in both baby and mature neurons. But the mind-bending substances were 1,000 times more efficient than Prozac at grabbing onto a key molecular hub, TrkB. With just a single dose, the drugs elevated mood in mice under chronic stress and reduced a previously-established fear. Psychedelics produce fast and persistent antidepressant effects…

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