Archived articles

Psychedelics

Psychedelic mushrooms
Q+A
The path forward for legal medical mushrooms
Published Dec 2, 2020
Johns Hopkins researcher Matthew Johnson discusses the future for psychedelics research in light of Oregon's measure to legalize psilocybin for clinical use
Psychedelic swirls coming out of a gramophone
Psychedelics
Inside a psilocybin playlist
Published Nov 11, 2020
Researchers rely on this carefully selected classical and contemporary music playlist to enhance the psychedelic experience for their patients during psilocybin studies
psychedelic mushrooms
Depression
Psychedelic treatment with psilocybin shown to relieve major depression
Published Nov 11, 2020
The antidepressant effect of the psilocybin—the active compound in so-called magic mushrooms—was about four times greater than is typically seen in traditional antidepressants currently on the market
Conceptual illustration of a silhouette and brainwaves
Psychedelics
A spiritual experience
Published Fall 2020
Johns Hopkins researchers discover that people who had previously identified as atheists described encountering a "benevolent entity" upon inhaling the psychedelic DMT / Johns Hopkins Magazine
Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson
Hopkins in the news
'60 Minutes' explores Hopkins' psychedelics research
Published Oct 14, 2019
Scientists Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson sit down with journalist Anderson Cooper to discuss the promise of psychedelics / 60 Minutes
Illustration of brain with psychedelic background
Psychedelics
Johns Hopkins launches center for psychedelic research
Published Sept 4, 2019
The center, believed to be the first and largest of its kind, will use psychedelics to study the mind, identify therapies for diseases such as addiction, PTSD, Alzheimer's
Colorado River Toad
Pharmacology
Toad venom therapy
Published Summer 2019
Psychoactive mushrooms may help individuals with depression and anxiety, but each trip can last from four to six hours. Enter the toad. / Johns Hopkins Magazine
Abstract design with multiple colors
Mental health
Profound experiences linked to lasting benefits
Published April 26, 2019
Majority of people who have reported encountering 'God'—whether spontaneously or triggered by psychedelics—report lasting positive changes to psychological health
Brain illustration
Brain science
Why MDMA may help treat PTSD
Published April 4, 2019
In mouse study, MDMA is shown to reactivate a learning period for social rewards, allowing test subjects to form positive associations where none existed before
Illustration of an octopus in a tank
IDEA
Making an octopus cuddly
Published Winter 2018
Study finds that humans and octopuses have a molecular mechanism in the brain that binds to MDMA—revealing evolutionary links between the two species / Johns Hopkins Magazine