A5024651565- Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Chemical synthesis and alkaloids
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
- Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies
- Traditional and Medicinal Uses of Annonaceae
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Maastricht University
2016-2025
National Pension Service
2015-2020
Ghent University
2012
Abstract There is growing interest in the therapeutic utility of psychedelic substances, like psilocybin, for disorders characterized by distortions self-experience, depression. Accumulating preclinical evidence emphasizes role glutamate system acute action drug on brain and behavior; however this has never been tested humans. Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design, we utilized an ultra-high field multimodal imaging approach demonstrated that psilocybin (0.17...
Ayahuasca is a South American psychotropic plant tea traditionally used in Amazonian shamanism. The contains the psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), plus β-carboline alkaloids with monoamine oxidase-inhibiting properties. Increasing evidence from anecdotal reports and open-label studies indicates that ayahuasca may have therapeutic effects treatment of substance use disorders depression. A recent study on psychological found reduces judgmental processing inner...
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (hereinafter referred to as 5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic substance found in the secretion from parotoid glands of Bufo alvarius toad. Inhalation vapor toad containing 5-MeO-DMT has become popular naturalistic settings treatment mental health problems or means for spiritual exploration. However, knowledge effects humans limited.The first objective this study was assess sub-acute and long-term inhaling dried on affect cognition. The second whether any changes...
Creative thinking and empathy are crucial for everyday interactions subjective well-being. This is emphasized by studies showing a reduction in these skills populations where social interaction well-being significantly compromised (e.g., depression). Anecdotal reports recent suggest that single administration of psilocybin can enhance such processes could therefore be potential treatment. However, it has yet to assessed whether effects outlast acute intoxication. The present study aimed...
MDMA induces positive mood and increases impulse control during intoxication, but only a few studies on the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying these processes have been conducted. It was hypothesized that pretreatment with 5-HT1 5-HT2 receptor blockers would prevent effects impulsivity. Subjects (N = 17) participated in double-blind, placebo controlled, within-subject design involving 6 experimental conditions consisting of (T1) treatment (T2). T1 preceded T2 by 30 minutes. T1–T2...
The acute and chronic effects of dronabinol [medicinal Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)] on actual driving performance the Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) were assessed. It was hypothesized that occasional users would be impaired these tests heavy show less impairment due to tolerance.Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, three-way cross-over study. Twelve 12 cannabis (14 males/10 females) received single doses placebo, 10 20 mg dronabinol.Standard deviation lateral position...
Microdosing with psychedelics has gained considerable media attention where it is portrayed as a performance enhancer, especially popular on the work floor. While reports are in general positive, scientific evidence about potential negative effects lacking aside from prevalence and motives for use. The present study addressed this gap by surveying psychedelic users their experience microdosing including dosing schedule, motivation, experienced effects.
Despite preclinical evidence for psychedelic-induced neuroplasticity, confirmation in humans is grossly lacking. Given the increased interest using low doses of psychedelics psychiatric indications and importance neuroplasticity therapeutic response, this placebo-controlled within-subject study investigated effect single LSD (5, 10, 20 μg) on circulating BDNF levels healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 6 h, determined afterward blood plasma ELISA. The findings...
Abstract Creativity is an essential cognitive ability linked to all areas of our everyday functioning. Thus, finding a way enhance it broad interest. A large number anecdotal reports suggest that the consumption psychedelic drugs can creative thinking; however, scientific evidence lacking. Following double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design, we demonstrated psilocybin (0.17 mg/kg) induced time- and construct-related differentiation effects on thinking. Acutely, increased...
There is a popular interest in microdosing with psychedelics such as LSD. This practice of using one-tenth full psychedelic dose according to specific dosing schedule, anecdotally enhances mood and performance. Nonetheless, controlled research on the efficacy scarce. The main objective present dose-finding study was determine minimal LSD needed affect cognition. A placebo-controlled within-subject including 24 healthy participants, conducted assess acute effects three doses (5, 10, 20 mcg)...
Abstract Ayahuasca is a plant concoction containing N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and certain β-carboline alkaloids from South America. Previous research in naturalistic settings has suggested that ingestion of ayahuasca can improve mental health well-being; however, these studies were not placebo controlled did control for the possibility expectation bias. This observational study was designed to assess whether changes produced by or set setting. Assessments made pre- post-ayahuasca...
Background: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an ergot alkaloid derivative with psychedelic properties that has been implicated in the management of persistent pain. Clinical studies 1960s and 1970s have demonstrated profound analgesic effects full doses LSD terminally ill patients, but this line research evaporated after was scheduled worldwide. Aim: The present clinical study first to revisit potential as analgesic, at dose levels which are not expected produce mind-altering effects....
Background: Naturalistic and placebo-controlled studies have suggested that ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian beverage, could be helpful in the treatment of psychopathologies like depression anxiety disorders by changing otherwise disturbed cognitive emotional processes. To better understand its full therapeutic potential, one way is to study effects on processes flexible thinking, empathy, well-being, which are normally compromised stress-related psychopathologies. Materials Methods:...
Patients characterized by stress-related disorders such as depression display elevated circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a hyperactive HPA axis. Psychedelics are demonstrating promising results in treatment disorders, however the mechanisms their therapeutic effects still unknown. To date evidence acute persisting psychedelics on immune functioning, axis activity response to stress, associated psychological outcomes is preliminary. address this, we conducted...
Growing numbers of people are using psychedelics for personal psychotherapy outside clinical settings, but research on such use is scarce.
The aim of the present study was to assess risk having a traffic accident after using alcohol, single drugs, or combination, and determine concentrations at which this is significantly increased.A population-based case-control carried out, collecting whole blood samples both cases controls, in number drugs were detected. an when under influence estimated logistic regression adjusting for gender, age time period (cases)/sampling (controls). main outcome measures odds ratio (OR) associated...
The present study aimed at investigating the effect of MDMA on measures empathy and social interaction, roles oxytocin 5-HT1A receptor in these effects. design was placebo-controlled within-subject with 4 treatment conditions: (75 mg), or without pindolol (20 nasal spray (40 IU+16 IU) placebo. Participants were 20 healthy poly-drug users, aged between 18–26 years. Cognitive emotional assessed by means Reading Mind Eyes Test Multifaceted Empathy Test. Social defined as trust reciprocity, a...
Background The present study assessed psychomotor function in chronic, daily cannabis smokers during 3 weeks continuously monitored abstinence on a secure research unit. We hypothesized that performance would improve of smokers. Methodology/Principal Findings Performance the critical tracking (CTT) and divided attention (DAT) tasks was 19 male at baseline after 8, 14–16 21–23 days abstinence. Psychomotor compared to control group non-intoxicated occasional drug users. Critical frequency (λc)...