Advances and challenges in neuroimaging studies on the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens: Contributions of the resting brain

Felix Müller, Matthias E. Liechti, Undine E. Lang, Stefan Borgwardt*

*Corresponding author for this work
10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the human brain have been studied since the earliest days of neuroimaging in the 1990s. However, approaches are often hard to compare and results are heterogeneous. In this chapter, we summarize studies investigating the effects of hallucinogens on the resting brain, with a special emphasis on replicability and limitations. In previous studies, similarities were observed between psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca, with respect to decreases in cerebral blood flow and increases in global functional connectivity in the precuneus and thalamus. Additionally, LSD consistently decreased functional connectivity within distinct resting state networks. Little convergence was observed for connectivity between networks and for blood flow in other brain regions. Although these studies are limited by small sample sizes and might be biased by unspecific drug effects on physiological parameters and the vascular system, current results indicate that neuroimaging could be a useful tool to elucidate the neuronal correlates of hallucinogenic effects.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPsychedelic Neuroscience
EditorsTanya Calvey
Number of pages19
PublisherElsevier B.V.
Publication date2018
Pages159-177
ISBN (Print)9780128142554
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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