Summary of Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors

Psychedelics have long been known to produce profound and lasting changes in consciousness, but the exact mechanisms behind these effects have remained elusive. Now, a groundbreaking new study published in the journal Science has shed light on how psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors. This finding challenges the traditional understanding of how serotonin works in the brain and has important implications for the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Furthermore, it provides a potential context for the endogenous production of the psychedelic compound DMT in the human brain.

Summary of An encounter with the self: A thematic and content analysis of the DMT experience from a naturalistic field study

This article discusses the qualitative analysis of the effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic drug capable of producing intense experiences that challenge one's perception of self and reality. The study used in-depth interviews to explore the effects of DMT use on personal and self-referential experiences of the body, senses, psychology, and emotions. The study found that DMT use elicits profound and highly intense experiences across several categories, including sensory, emotion and body, space-time shifts, bodily effects, sensorial effects, psychological effects, and emotional effects. The study also explores the potential neural mechanisms and the promise of DMT as a psychotherapeutic agent.