Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics01:27

Hallucinogens and Psychedelics

407
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...
407
Unrealistic Optimism Bias01:30

Unrealistic Optimism Bias

97
Unrealistic optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes. This cognitive bias makes individuals believe they are less likely to experience failures, setbacks, or risks and more likely to succeed than others. For example, people may assume they are less prone to health issues, accidents, or financial struggles than their peers, even when they share similar risk factors.One key component of this bias is the above-average effect, where individuals perceive...
97
The Placebo Effect01:54

The Placebo Effect

6.6K
The placebo effect occurs when people's expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience in a given situation. In other words, simply expecting something to happen can actually make it happen.
6.6K
Magical Thinking01:29

Magical Thinking

90
Magical thinking encompasses the belief in assumptions that defy logical reasoning yet appear intuitively convincing. It is a common psychological phenomenon that persists across various cultural and individual contexts. While these assumptions contradict empirical evidence and scientific laws, they often serve meaningful psychological roles in promoting emotional resilience and a sense of control, especially under stress or uncertainty.Thought-Action Fusion and the Law of SimilarityA key...
90
CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents01:22

CNS Stimulants: Psychedelic Agents

406
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...
406
Altered States of Awareness01:06

Altered States of Awareness

764
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...
764

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Human brain changes after first psilocybin use.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Learning from boundlessness: epistemic shifts towards a holistic worldview following psychedelic experiences.

Npj mental health research·2026
Same author

Reactivations Associated with the Use of 5-MeO-DMT Among Spanish-Speaking Individuals: Prevalence, Predictors, and Emotional Valence.

Journal of psychoactive drugs·2025
Same author

Serotonergic psychedelics for depression: A comprehensive overview.

International review of neurobiology·2025
Same author

An Integrated theory of false insights and beliefs under psychedelics.

Communications psychology·2024
Same author

Psilocybin and Other Classic Psychedelics in Depression.

Current topics in behavioral neurosciences·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 20, 2025

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
07:13

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Published on: October 24, 2018

18.2K

Positive expectations predict improved mental-health outcomes linked to psychedelic microdosing.

L S Kaertner1, M B Steinborn2, H Kettner3

  • 1Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London, UK. laura.kartner17@imperial.ac.uk.

Scientific Reports
|January 22, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Psychedelic microdosing showed improvements in well-being and emotional stability. However, positive expectations significantly predicted these outcomes, suggesting a notable placebo effect in psychedelic microdosing research.

More Related Videos

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
06:55

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Published on: December 2, 2015

23.0K
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

7.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2025

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice
07:13

The Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Inducing Anhedonia in Mice

Published on: October 24, 2018

18.2K
An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
06:55

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents

Published on: December 2, 2015

23.0K
Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

7.1K

Area of Science:

  • Psychopharmacology
  • Mental Health Research

Background:

  • Psychedelic microdosing involves sub-perceptual doses of classic psychedelics.
  • Anecdotal evidence suggests mood and well-being benefits, but controlled studies lack robust findings.
  • Recent placebo-controlled trials have not provided compelling evidence for efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of a weekly psychedelic microdosing regimen on mental health and well-being.
  • To examine the role of participant expectations in the outcomes of psychedelic microdosing.
  • To provide a prospective evaluation of psychedelic microdosing over a four-week period.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, web-based study design was employed.
  • Participants (N=81) planning weekly microdosing completed surveys before, during, and after a four-week period.
  • Data collected included measures of psychological well-being, emotional stability, anxiety, depression, resilience, and social connectedness.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements were reported in psychological well-being, emotional stability, and reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms.
  • Increases in psychological resilience, social connectedness, agreeableness, nature relatedness, and psychological flexibility were observed.
  • Baseline positive expectancy scores strongly predicted subsequent improvements in well-being, indicating a substantial placebo response.

Conclusions:

  • Positive expectancy plays a crucial role in the perceived benefits of psychedelic microdosing.
  • The study cautions against overstating the therapeutic value of psychedelic microdosing due to the significant placebo effect.
  • Further research is needed to disentangle the specific effects of psychedelics from expectancy effects in microdosing protocols.