Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

Hallucinogens, also known as psychedelic drugs, are a class of substances known for their ability to alter perception, cognition, and emotions. Despite their profound effects on the mind, these drugs are non-addictive, setting them apart from many other abused substances. The mechanism of action of these drugs lies in their impact on the 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. Upon activation, this receptor couples to Gq-type G proteins, triggering a cascade that releases intracellular calcium. This...

Altered States of Awareness

Altered States of Awareness

Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain that...

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perceptual experiences, generating unreal visual and sensory images. Often referred to as psychedelic drugs — a term derived from the Greek words "psyche" (mind) and "delos" (revealing) — these substances include marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), among others. These drugs vary in intensity and effects.
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)...

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Psilocybin therapy for adult females with anorexia nervosa: pilot study.

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science·2026

Same author

Modeled Long-Term Effects of Psilocybin on Dynamic Activity and Effective Connectivity of Fronto-Striatal-Thalamic Circuits.

Human brain mapping·2026

Same author

Protocol for a qualitative mechanistic study of MDMA with a sample of psychoanalytic psychotherapists: A phenomenological investigation.

PloS one·2026

Same author

Towards Mechanism-Informed Treatments for Mental Health.

Journal of neurochemistry·2026

Same author

Exploring new avenues: Psychedelic-assisted therapy for young people.

British journal of clinical pharmacology·2026

Same author

An international mega-analysis of psychedelic drug effects on brain circuit function.

Nature medicine·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

Broadband cortical desynchronization underlies the human psychedelic state.

Suresh D Muthukumaraswamy¹, Robin L Carhart-Harris, Rosalyn J Moran

¹Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF119BJ, United Kingdom, Imperial College London, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, London W12 ONN, United Kingdom, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom, Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, Nottingham University, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, United Kingdom, The Beckley Foundation, Beckley Park, Oxford OX3 9SY, United Kingdom, and Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, and Bradley Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, Virginia 24016.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|September 20, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Psilocybin, a psychedelic, decreases brainwave activity in key networks, particularly the default-mode network. This desynchronization, driven by serotonin 2A receptor activation, may explain the profound changes in consciousness experienced during psychedelic states.

More Related Videos

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Published on: January 19, 2019

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Generation and On-Demand Initiation of Acute Ictal Activity in Rodent and Human Tissue

Published on: January 19, 2019

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychopharmacology

Background:

Psychedelic drugs induce significant alterations in consciousness.
The neurobiological underpinnings of these effects remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neurobiological mechanisms of psilocybin's effects on brain activity.
To explore how psilocybin impacts spontaneous and induced brain oscillations.

Main Methods:

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to record brain activity in healthy participants.
Participants received intravenous psilocybin, a serotonin 2A receptor agonist.
Independent component analysis and dynamic causal modeling were employed.

Main Results:

Psilocybin significantly reduced oscillatory power in frontal and posterior association cortices, including the default-mode network.
Basic gamma-band oscillations related to visual and motor tasks remained unaffected.
Posterior cingulate cortex desynchronization was linked to increased excitability of deep-layer pyramidal neurons.

Conclusions:

Psychedelic effects are associated with a desynchronization of cortical oscillatory rhythms.
This desynchronization is likely initiated by 5-HT2A receptor-mediated excitation of deep pyramidal cells.
The findings provide a neurobiological basis for the subjective experiences induced by psychedelics.