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Multifaceted Research with Psychedelics @ Maastricht University

We conduct a large variety of studies, all aimed at better understanding psychedelic mechanisms of action, and their clinical applications. To get a glimpse at some of the different aspects of our research, check out the video from our recent symposium, where our PhD candidates share some of the work going on at our department.… Continue reading Multifaceted Research with Psychedelics @ Maastricht University

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Persisting Effects of Ayahuasca on Empathy, Creative Thinking, Decentering, Personality, and Well-Being

A new study from our group: Collaboration with facilitators of ayahuasca ceremonies throughout the Netherlands has allowed us to assess if Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew of Amazonian origin, induces persisting short- and long-term effects on emotional and cognitive functioning of healthy volunteers. It was found that 24 hours after participating in an ayahuasca ceremony, participants… Continue reading Persisting Effects of Ayahuasca on Empathy, Creative Thinking, Decentering, Personality, and Well-Being

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How Magic Mushrooms Might Dissolve the Ego Revealed

New research from our group, published in Neuropsychopharmacology: Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design, we utilized an ultra-high field multimodal brain imaging approach and demonstrated that psilocybin (0.17 mg/kg) induced region-dependent alterations in glutamate, which predicted distortions in the subjective experience of one’s self (ego dissolution). Whereas higher levels of medial prefrontal cortical glutamate were… Continue reading How Magic Mushrooms Might Dissolve the Ego Revealed