Neurological Breakthroughs: The Impact of Psychedelics in Psychotherapy

Emerging studies indicate that psychedelics can facilitate rapid and enduring neurological changes.

Traditionally, the brain adapts gradually, but psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy can significantly accelerate this process. This therapy, employing substances like psilocybin, initiates notable brain alterations, offering potential benefits in mental health treatments. The effects of psychedelics, however, can vary widely, and their therapeutic application remains a subject of ongoing research and regulatory consideration.

Normally, the brain undergoes change at a slow pace, observable in activities like acquiring new skills, language learning, or post-stroke recovery. This change is backed by neuroscientific research, which shows that mastering new abilities correlates with neurological changes. For instance, learning complex subjects like Calculus 1 leads to noticeable changes in the brain. Similarly, the frequency of use affects motor neurons in the brain, mirroring the principle of “use it or lose it.”

Aspiration for Swift Neurological Transformation

Many people wish for a more rapid brain transformation, not only for skill acquisition but also for overcoming issues such as anxiety, depression, and addiction.

Medical professionals and researchers acknowledge that the brain is capable of quick, lasting changes, often observed following traumatic experiences that leave a lasting impact on the brain.

Experiences Leading to Positive Change

On the flip side, life-altering positive experiences can also manifest rapidly. Examples include spiritual awakenings, near-death experiences, or profound moments in nature.

These events, termed psychologically transformative experiences or pivotal mental states by social scientists, represent significant turning points. These experiences likely induce swift alterations in the brain’s neural pathways.

Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

Those who undergo psychedelic experiences often describe them as ineffable mental journeys. These experiences can be seen as altered states of consciousness with changes in perception, self-awareness, and rapidly fluctuating emotions. This might be due to a loosening of higher brain functions, allowing deeper thoughts and emotions to surface.

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy merges conventional talk therapy with the intense experience of psychedelics. Research has shown that subjects undergoing this therapy with psilocybin, coupled with psychotherapy, report profound, life-changing experiences even after a single session. For example, patients with advanced cancer have rapidly achieved a sense of peace and acceptance of their condition.

Neurological Basis for Change

Neuroscience suggests that learning, memory, and attitude changes in the brain are due to the formation of new neural connections, akin to tree branches growing together. This is known as arborization.

Researchers have observed this process in live cells, tracking the development and retraction of spines on neurons, which are crucial for neuron-to-neuron communication.

It was previously believed that enduring spine formation required repeated, focused mental effort. However, recent studies at Yale have shown rapid spine growth in the frontal cortex of mice following a single dose of psilocybin. Mice given the drug showed a 10% increase in spine formation, which persisted for over a month.

Psychedelic Molecules’ Influence

Psychoactive molecules primarily impact brain function by interacting with neural cell receptors. The serotonin receptor 5HT, affected by antidepressants, has various subtypes. Psychedelics like DMT, found in ayahuasca, stimulate a specific receptor type, 5-HT2A, crucial for rapid brain changes.

DMT activates 5-HT2A receptors both on and inside the neuron. It’s the internal 5-HT2A receptors that facilitate quick changes in neural structure. Psychedelics penetrate the cell membrane, affecting these receptors and promoting dendritic growth and spine formation.

Interestingly, DMT, besides being in ayahuasca, is also naturally produced in mammalian brains. This suggests that the brain might use its own DMT to facilitate significant mental shifts, a mechanism potentially harnessed by psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for healing.

Words of Caution

Psychedelics, while potent, are not universally approved for treatment. In 2019, the U.S. FDA approved ketamine, combined with an antidepressant, for treating adult depression. Trials are ongoing for MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly) in treating PTSD and psilocybin for depression.

Written by Edmund S. Higgins, Affiliate Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina.

Originally adapted from an article in The Conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

More about Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy

• Psychedelic Therapy and Brain Plasticity
• Understanding Psychedelics and Mental Health
• FDA Approval and Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
• Psychedelic Research and Neurological Changes