Is the psychedelic hype bubble about to burst? Might that be best for the field? In a new @JAMAPsych article w/ me, @jpotash1, & R. Griffiths, we argue for moving beyond overly negative AND positive extremes to embrace the actual evidence @JHPsychedelics https://t.co/LnkkUMO0tj

It is ...easy to be certain. One has only to be sufficiently vague.

New paper with Junyi Chu, Tomer Ullman et al showing that kids think more difficulty is more fun! Fun isn't easy: Children selectively manipulate task difficulty when “playing for fun” versus “playing to win”.

Are more reflective thinkers better at games that require empathy or perspective-taking? In two experiments, reflective thinking performed better on such games, seemingly because they paid more attention to the other players' incentives. https://t.co/Wxqs2YxJpW #econ #cogSci

“We conclude that apparent effects of growth mindset interventions on academic achievement are likely attributable to inadequate study design, reporting flaws, and bias.” https://t.co/QnWGc9pLsv

“What I would love to see is the NIH funding medical researchers to do large, rigorous, well-powered studies with active controls, which are expensive but would provide us with information that would be absolutely priceless.” — David A. Yaden (@ExistWell ) , speaking at a panel

New paper led by Dr. Praachi Tiwari (@PraachiTiwari)! The psychedelic DOI alters locomotion depending on dose and species (through 5-HT₂A receptors). This matters for understanding anxiety-like behavior in animal models of psychedelics. (w/ @ViditaVaidya and her great lab)

We used rabies virus 👾 to map how #psilocybin modifies long-range circuits 🧠, revealing network-specific reorganization that we didn’t expect. Full study now online at Cell @CellCellPress Paper 👉 https://t.co/nMpVaiTCni Thread for a synopsis 👉 https://t.co/X8QDQpRGTQ

New preprint + thread 🧵 #Psychedelics induce the formation of new synapses, but where do they connect? Our rabies tracing study reveals that #psilocybin shifts connectivity across specific cortical networks. https://t.co/lJgJcaxoxD 1/12

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a prevalent and costly psychiatric disorder. This Review examines the use of reductions in World Health Organization (WHO) risk drinking levels as an end point in pharmacotherapy trials for people with alcohol use disorder. https://t.co/nb30iNniVG

New @PNASNews: our team @VUMCDiscoveries show first evidence #mindfulness modulates human neurofluid circulation (#glymphatics) in ways that resemble sleep and oppose aging-related hyperdynamic CSF flow. https://t.co/gJu6IoY7JY Full talk @ #brainmind: https://t.co/YB0m9pzSxD

Come hear Dr. Sandeep Nayak @sdpnayak discuss fascinating questions related to how psychedelic experiences may or may not change across cultural contexts. As psychedelic treatments go global, these kinds of cultural considerations will become increasingly interesting.

How universal are psychedelic experiences? 🌐 Dr. Sandeep Nayak breaks down the science behind non-WEIRD perspectives. Dec 3 | Online | Link to join -> https://t.co/menMvOBfLC

New commentary out w/ @mnvrsngh in Religion, Brain, and Behavior! We argue that social learning fails to explain three patterns in religious belief and practice: SBNR beliefs, strategic endorsement of beliefs, and religious experience. Check it out here: https://t.co/N05YMSPJ2b

Why do humans believe in things that seem to lack all supporting evidence, like conspiracy theories, spirits and psuedoscience? In a new Review for @TrendsCognSci , @mnvrsngh and I argue that experience plays a crucial role in shaping these 'extraordinary beliefs.' Link in 🧵

@sdpnayak @mnvrsngh Much less discussed, but much higher quality design showing NO effect of psychedelic experience on metaphysical beliefs (though intriguing mind perception finding to follow up on @kurtjgray). led by @sdpnayak https://t.co/PWf2qbtDDn

A review covering our clinical experience working with persistent challenges after using psychedelics and the research literature. Might be of interest @RCarhartHarris @Drug_Researcher @HDourron @TheBorisLab @JacobSAday @ExistWell @tommaso_barba https://t.co/BFdVqJ67Ct

Tom Stoppard on his favorite book of 2020 (TLS).

The awe experience: What is it like to experience awe? My latest Substack article: https://t.co/M77g8uIJQT @ExistWell

🍄 Our new living systematic review and meta-analysis on psilocybin for depression is out. Here's what we found and the open science infrastructure we built to support it 🧵

Psilocybin research seems on slope of enlightenment: -large trials w/ active controls -multi-site replications -meta-analyses on risks/benefits Ibogaine seems it's cresting the peak of the hype cycle: -small uncontrolled studies -anecdotes outpacing evidence -understudied risks