Dr. Matthew Johnson on Huberman Lab: How Psilocybin Heals

Psilocybin reshapes self-identity to treat depression and addiction at high doses. Johnson covers clinical dosing, set and setting, and bad-trip risks.

Andrew HubermanhostDr. Matthew Johnsonguest

Jul 24, 202534mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: July 24, 2025
Duration: 34m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is ⁠Dr. Matthew Johnson, PhD⁠, a senior researcher for the Center of Excellence for Psilocybin Research and Treatment at Sheppard Pratt’s Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics. We explore the science and therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine, including psilocybin, MDMA and LSD. We discuss how these substances can profoundly alter perception and self-identity, providing long-lasting relief from depression, addiction and trauma when used in controlled clinical settings. We also discuss microdosing and emerging research on psychedelics’ potential to support recovery from neurological injuries. Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/yjsDPfV Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past full-length Huberman Lab episodes. Watch the full-length episode: https://youtu.be/GzvzWO0NU50 Watch more Huberman Lab Essentials episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPNW_gerXa4OGNy1yE-W9IX-tPu-tJa7S *Follow Huberman Lab* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter *Timestamps* 00:00:00 Matthew Johnson; Psychedelics 00:01:44 Different Classes of Psychedelics 00:04:33 Psychedelics & Altering Models 00:06:18 LSD, Psylocibin & Serotonin 00:08:44 Psychedelic Clinical Trials 00:12:28 Therapy, Trust, Psychedelics 00:15:36 Letting Go & Psychedelic Experience, Self-Representation, Lasting Changes 00:21:19 MDMA, Dopamine & Serotonin; Bad Trips & Transcendental Experience 00:24:43 Dangers of Psychedelics 00:27:04 Microdosing Psychedelics, Antidepressant 00:31:20 Head Injuries, Psychedelics, Depression Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

Andrew Huberman
host
Dr. Matthew Johnson
guest
Narrator
other

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Andrew Huberman and Dr. Matthew Johnson, Dr. Matthew Johnson on Huberman Lab: How Psilocybin Heals explores psychedelics Reshape Self-Identity To Treat Depression, Trauma, And Addiction Andrew Huberman and Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Matthew Johnson discuss how different classes of psychedelics work pharmacologically and psychologically, and what truly qualifies a drug as a psychedelic. They explain how classic serotonergic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD, NMDA antagonists like ketamine, and MDMA can profoundly alter one’s sense of reality and sense of self. The conversation focuses on carefully structured clinical protocols, including screening, preparation, high‑dose ‘heroic’ sessions, and integration, and how these can lead to lasting changes in self-representation that alleviate depression, addiction, anxiety related to cancer, and potentially PTSD. They also cover real risks (bad trips, destabilization, psychosis vulnerability), the current lack of evidence for microdosing, and early, speculative ideas about using psychedelics to help repair neurological injury and cognitive function.

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