Long-term use was associated with thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex , thickening of the anterior cingulate cortex , and decreased neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding .
Despite the high method ological heterogeneity and the small sample sizes , the results suggest that hallucinogens increase introspection and positive mood by modulating brain activity in the fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital cortex
Serotonergic hallucinogens produce alterations of perceptions , mood , and cognition , and have anxiolytic , antidepressant , and antiaddictive properties .
These drugs act as agonists of frontocortical 5-HT2A receptors , but the neural basis of their effects are not well understood .
Thus , we conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies analyzing the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens in man .
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences in the treatment of tobacco addiction.
Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences have been linked to persisting effects in healthy volunteers including positive changes in behavior , attitudes , and values , and increases in the personality domain of openness . In an open-label pilot- study of psilocybin-facilitated smoking addiction treatment , 15 smokers received 2 or 3 doses of psilocybin  in the context of cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) for smoking cessation . Twelve of 15 participants ( 80 % ) demonstrated biologically verified smoking abstinence at 6-month follow-up . Participants who were abstinent at 6 months ( n=12 ) were compared to participants still smoking at 6 months ( n=3 ) on measures of subjective effects of psilocybin . Abstainers scored significantly higher on a measure of psilocybin-occasioned mystical experience . No significant differences in general intensity of drug effects were found between groups , suggesting that mystical-type subjective effects , rather than overall intensity of drug effects , were responsible for smoking cessation . Nine of 15 participants ( 60 % ) met criteria for " complete " mystical experience . Smoking cessation outcomes were significantly correlated with measures of mystical experience on session days , as well as retrospective ratings of personal meaning and spiritual significance of psilocybin sessions . These results suggest a mediating role of mystical experience in psychedelic-facilitated addiction treatment
Long-term use was associated with thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex , thickening of the anterior cingulate cortex , and decreased neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding .
Despite the high method ological heterogeneity and the small sample sizes , the results suggest that hallucinogens increase introspection and positive mood by modulating brain activity in the fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital cortex
Serotonergic hallucinogens produce alterations of perceptions , mood , and cognition , and have anxiolytic , antidepressant , and antiaddictive properties .
These drugs act as agonists of frontocortical 5-HT2A receptors , but the neural basis of their effects are not well understood .
Thus , we conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies analyzing the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens in man .