Psychedelic 'neural fingerprint' uncovered in brain scans

Scientists have identified a unique signature in brain scans that appears when people take psychedelic drugs like LSD, psilocybin, DMT, mescaline and ayahuasca, leading to the dissolution of usual brain hierarchies.

Shared impact on brain function revealed by combined study

A massive research effort combining 11 brain imaging datasets from around the world has uncovered a common 'neural fingerprint' produced by these mind-altering substances.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, analyzed over 500 brain scans from 267 people in five countries, finding that despite some differences, there was substantial overlap in the impact of these drugs on brain activity.

Researchers discovered that psychedelics strengthen communication between brain networks involved in higher-level thinking and more primitive networks linked to vision and sensation.