How Psychedelic Drugs Affect the Brain

White CM, Azimi Z, Staadt R, Song C, Knöpfel T, Jancke D (2026).

Psychedelic 5-HT2A Agonist Increases Spontaneous and Evoked 5-Hz Oscillations in Visual and Retrosplenial Cortex.

Commun Biol 9, 216.

Psychedelic substances are increasingly being used under medical supervision to treat anxiety disorders and depression. Our study highlights potential mechanisms of serotonin modulating consciousness and perception, indicating enhanced top-down processing during altered states. Altogether our findings reinforce new approaches in psychology, using psychedelic substances under medical supervision to treat certain clinical conditions.

Press release, Pressemitteilung (english, deutsch)

Published online in Communications Biology

Video available at Youtube

Prof. Dr. Dirk Jancke

Institut für Neuroinformatik NB2/27
Ruhr University Bochum
44780 Bochum
Germany

Phone Lab:+49 (0)234 32 28967
Phone Office: +49 (0)234-32-27845
E-Mail: dirk.jancke@rub.de