✨ Microdosing's Muddy Month

👋 Welcome

Hey friends!

This week’s roundup lands during a surprisingly muddy month for LSD microdosing research, with new studies pointing in different directions and raising fresh questions about what these tiny doses actually do.

Alongside that, we’re tracking breakthroughs in brain health, new policy pressure on federal agencies, and a growing recognition that psychedelic science is expanding far beyond its early boundaries.

From elite athletes showing measurable brain improvements, to national data confirming no rise in emergency visits despite soaring interest, to new findings stretching from cellular mechanisms to déjà vu — the landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

Let’s get into it!

🔝 Weekly Highlights

• 🌿 Groundbreaking pilot study shows psilocybin improves brain activity in elite athletes with traumatic brain injuries
  A first-of-its-kind project from Experience Onward reports measurable improvements in neural function among athletes recovering from repeated head trauma. Read more.
  

• 📊 Large-scale data shows rising interest in psychedelics hasn’t increased ER visits
  A multi-year review of hospital records found no surge in emergency situations as public use and curiosity continue to grow. Full story.

• 💡 New analysis explores how psychedelics may expand beyond mental health treatment
  Researchers outline emerging uses ranging from inflammation and immune modulation to cognitive enhancement and neuroplasticity support. Learn more.

🧬 Quick Hits

RESEARCH 🔬

• 🔍 Psilocybin alters how the brain interprets visual context
  New data reveals that the compound changes how the brain organizes and interprets surrounding visual information — offering clues into both perception and altered states. Read the study.
  

• 🌀 Fresh research sheds light on the mystery of déjà vu (not psychedelic-related, but fascinating)
  Scientists uncover new mechanisms behind the eerie sensation of reliving a moment. More here.
  

• ⚖️ Research uncovers sex-based differences in how psilocybin influences opioid withdrawal and reward
  Findings show that biological sex can shape how psilocybin influences reward pathways. Full study.
  

• 🧠 Researchers identify the cellular mechanism behind psilocin’s impact on brain activity
  A molecular-level explanation of how the active metabolite drives neural change. Read more.

• 🌬️ Breathwork routine shown to produce psychedelic-like physiological shifts
  A detailed overview of how controlled breathing techniques can recreate features of altered-state experiences. Article.
  

• 🍃 Study finds people drink significantly less alcohol after smoking cannabis
  A federally funded review shows consistent decreases in alcohol consumption among cannabis users — a trend with major public health implications. See results.

POLICY 🏛️

• 📉 AMA researchers warn federal laws are choking psilocybin research
  A growing body of scientists say outdated policy is slowing critical progress. Full story.
  

• 🎖️ VA expands psychedelic therapy trials for PTSD
  A major step toward broadening access for veterans in need. Read more.
  

• ⛪ Federal judge calls out DEA over delays involving ayahuasca petition
  A rare rebuke of the agency’s handling of religious-use exemptions. Full details.

BUSINESS 📊

• 🏢 Boulder’s first psilocybin healing centers open their doors
  A new chapter for regulated services in Colorado. Coverage.
  

• 🚀 ARPA-H launches $100M effort to “demystify” mental health and catalyze rapid-acting therapeutics (including psychedelics)
  A high-impact federal initiative accelerating next-generation treatments. Read more.

CULTURE 🎭

• 🏋️ Can psychedelics improve your workout?
  A look at the people experimenting with performance-based altered states — and what early observations suggest. Read more.
  

• 📚 How DMT converted Terence McKenna into a psychedelic edge runner
  A story of ideas, vision, and transformation at the fringes of consciousness exploration. Full piece.

⚱️ Main Feature

What’s the Deal With Microdosing LSD?

This month delivered two major updates on LSD microdosing — and instead of providing clarity, they pushed the conversation into water that’s a bit more muddy.

The first came from the University of Auckland, where researchers ran an open-label Phase 2A trial on LSD microdosing for major depressive disorder. Their results were striking: an 8-week, twice-weekly microdosing regimen reduced depression scores by 59.5%, and those improvements were sustained all the way to the six-month follow-up. Participants also saw meaningful drops in anxiety, rumination, and stress — with increases in motivation, pleasure, and overall quality of life. Safety monitoring showed no significant cardiac issues, and adherence to dosing was extremely high.

It was a strong early signal — the kind that suggests microdosing might hold real therapeutic potential under the right conditions.

But then Justin Hanka from MindBio Therapeutics released results from their long-awaited Phase 2B, and the data moved in the opposite direction.

MindBio’s trial was the most rigorous microdosing study ever conducted for depression: triple-blind, double-dummy, active-placebo controlled, with nearly 90 participants. And in that setting, LSD microdosing did not outperform placebo for Major Depressive Disorder.

No measurable clinical advantage. No statistically significant difference on depression scales.

It was a surprising result — especially because MindBio’s earlier work in healthy volunteers showed the opposite. In that trial, repeated low doses produced clear, statistically significant boosts in mood, energy, creativity, sleep quality, emotional balance, and social connection. Their team even detected predictable speech pattern changes after microdoses strong enough to build an AI model that can identify whether someone has taken LSD.

So one study shows major improvements in depression. Another — more tightly controlled — shows none. And healthy participants continue to show consistent subjective benefits.

Looking at LSD microdosing research from the past decade, the same pattern shows up again and again: microdosing often produces small boosts in mood, focus, creativity, and sleep in healthy people, but the clinical evidence for treating depression has remained inconsistent. Some studies show encouraging signals, others find no measurable difference from placebo, and most highlight how much expectations shape the experience. Overall, the science suggests subtle benefits for some users — but not a reliable therapeutic effect across the board.

Outside the lab, anecdotal reports certainly seem to be more positive — but not universally. Some describe better focus, more motivation, emotional lift, and greater creative flow. Others have reported increased anxiety or overstimulation, especially early in their routine.

This month didn’t settle the debate — it highlighted why the science feels muddy.

Different designs, different populations, different controls, and different expectations all shape the outcome. And together, these studies mark an inflection point: microdosing may not be a one-size-fits-all tool, and researchers are finally getting the data to understand why.

🎁 Psychedelic Utility Belt

• 🧭 The Ibogaine Survival Map
  A grounded, easy-to-understand guide covering what ibogaine is, how it works, and what people should consider before exploring it. Read more.
  

• 🧠 Inside the Psychedelic Engine Room
  A science walkthrough explaining the neural pathways, receptors, and brain dynamics that shape these experiences — featuring insights from Alex Belser. See here.

👋 Signoff

The research, policy shifts, and cultural conversations unfolding this week highlight a simple truth: the psychedelic field is no longer confined to a niche. It’s expanding into medicine, athletics, public health, and everyday life — reshaping how we think about healing and human potential.

As always, thank you for being part of this movement and for staying curious, engaged, and grounded as the science evolves.

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