The Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health | Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris

In this episode, my guest is Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He is one of the leading researchers studying how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and DMT can change the human brain and, in doing so, be used to successfully treat various mental health challenges such as major depression, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction. He explains how psilocybin induces sustained changes in adaptive brain wiring and cognition. We discuss the key components of safe and effective psychedelic journeys, the role of hallucinations, the use of eye masks to encourage people to “go internal” and music, as well as what effective therapist support consists of before, during and after the session (also known as integration). We explore microdosing versus macrodosing and how researchers control for placebo effects in psychedelic research. We also examine the current legal landscape surrounding psychedelic therapies. Psychedelic therapies are fast emerging as powerful and soon-to-be mainstream treatments for mental health disorders, but they are not without risk. As such, this episode ought to be of use to anyone interested in brain plasticity, mental health, psychology or neuroscience. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Levels: https://levels.link/huberman HVMN: https://hvmn.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman The Brain Body Contract https://hubermanlab.com/tour Huberman Lab Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris Academic Profile: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robin.carhart-harris Publications: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robin.carhart-harris#toc-id3 Support USCF Psychedelic Research Fund: https://makeagift.ucsf.edu/site/SPageServer?pagename=A1_API_GeneralGivingForm&Other=Psychedelic%20Research%20Fund%20zzz%207031398-SFFDN UCSF Clinical Trials Enrollment: https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/psychedelic-experiences Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCarhartHarris TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/MZIaTaNR3gk Articles Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosing: https://bit.ly/3IxMrUJ Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression: https://bit.ly/3Os2I11 Pivotal mental states: https://bit.ly/3ITFVYH Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression: https://go.nature.com/3q4Sb1z Structure-based discovery of nonhallucinogenic psychedelic analogs: https://bit.ly/41Svyux Self-Medication for Chronic Pain Using Classic Psychedelics: A Qualitative Investigation to Inform Future Research: https://bit.ly/3Wr1q8C MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study: https://go.nature.com/3WqI2Zd Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris 00:02:12 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Levels, HVMN 00:05:41 The Brain-Body Contract 00:06:31 Origin of the Word: “Psychedelics”; Pharmacology 00:12:05 Psychedelics & Revealing the Unconscious Mind, Psychotherapy 00:17:32 Microdosing 00:26:08 Psilocybin vs. Magic Mushroom Doses 00:28:28 “Psychedelic-Therapy”, Music 00:35:12 Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) 00:36:26 Psychedelic Journey: “Trust, Let Go, Be Open” 00:43:01 Negative Emotions, Fear & Psychedelics 00:46:21 Global Functional Connectivity, Serotonin 2A Receptor; Subjective Experiences 00:52:33 Pharmacology: Therapeutics without Psychedelic Effects; SSRIs 00:58:45 Psilocybin & Depression; Long-Term Effects: Connectivity & Neuroplasticity 01:09:14 Sponsor: LMNT 01:10:26 Psilocybin Therapy & Anorexia 01:12:56 Integration Phase & Psychedelic-Therapy; Meditation 01:19:50 First-Time Psychedelic Use, “Entropic Brain Effect”, Neuroplasticity, Cognition 01:30:16 Fibromyalgia & Psychedelic Treatment; MDMA Therapy & “Inner Healer” 01:38:55 Placebo Response & Psychedelic Therapy 01:41:39 LSD & Psychedelic-Therapy, Micro-Dose 01:48:19 Combination Psilocybin-MDMA Therapy 01:56:06 DMT “Rocketship” & Serotonin 2A Receptors; Ibogaine 02:01:04 “Ego Dissolution”, Cocaine vs. Psychedelics; Relapses 02:12:26 Psychedelics & Legal Landscape; Decriminalization 02:17:54 MDMA, Trauma & Clinical Trials; Future Regulatory (FDA) Approval? 02:23:25 Psilocybin & Current Clinical Trials 02:28:41 Mental Health & Psychedelic Treatment, Safeguards, Paradigm Shift 02:34:39 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com Disclaimer: https://hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Andrew HubermanhostRobin Carhart-Harrisguest

May 22, 20232h 37mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: May 22, 2023
Duration: 2h 37m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode, my guest is Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He is one of the leading researchers studying how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD and DMT can change the human brain and, in doing so, be used to successfully treat various mental health challenges such as major depression, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction. He explains how psilocybin induces sustained changes in adaptive brain wiring and cognition. We discuss the key components of safe and effective psychedelic journeys, the role of hallucinations, the use of eye masks to encourage people to “go internal” and music, as well as what effective therapist support consists of before, during and after the session (also known as integration). We explore microdosing versus macrodosing and how researchers control for placebo effects in psychedelic research. We also examine the current legal landscape surrounding psychedelic therapies. Psychedelic therapies are fast emerging as powerful and soon-to-be mainstream treatments for mental health disorders, but they are not without risk. As such, this episode ought to be of use to anyone interested in brain plasticity, mental health, psychology or neuroscience. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Levels: https://levels.link/huberman HVMN: https://hvmn.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman The Brain Body Contract https://hubermanlab.com/tour Huberman Lab Social & Website Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Twitter: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://hubermanlab.com/neural-network Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris Academic Profile: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robin.carhart-harris Publications: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/robin.carhart-harris#toc-id3 Support USCF Psychedelic Research Fund: https://makeagift.ucsf.edu/site/SPageServer?pagename=A1_API_GeneralGivingForm&Other=Psychedelic%20Research%20Fund%20zzz%207031398-SFFDN UCSF Clinical Trials Enrollment: https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/psychedelic-experiences Twitter: https://twitter.com/RCarhartHarris TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/MZIaTaNR3gk Articles Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosing: https://bit.ly/3IxMrUJ Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression: https://bit.ly/3Os2I11 Pivotal mental states: https://bit.ly/3ITFVYH Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression: https://go.nature.com/3q4Sb1z Structure-based discovery of nonhallucinogenic psychedelic analogs: https://bit.ly/41Svyux Self-Medication for Chronic Pain Using Classic Psychedelics: A Qualitative Investigation to Inform Future Research: https://bit.ly/3Wr1q8C MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study: https://go.nature.com/3WqI2Zd Timestamps 00:00:00 Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris 00:02:12 Sponsors: Eight Sleep, Levels, HVMN 00:05:41 The Brain-Body Contract 00:06:31 Origin of the Word: “Psychedelics”; Pharmacology 00:12:05 Psychedelics & Revealing the Unconscious Mind, Psychotherapy 00:17:32 Microdosing 00:26:08 Psilocybin vs. Magic Mushroom Doses 00:28:28 “Psychedelic-Therapy”, Music 00:35:12 Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) 00:36:26 Psychedelic Journey: “Trust, Let Go, Be Open” 00:43:01 Negative Emotions, Fear & Psychedelics 00:46:21 Global Functional Connectivity, Serotonin 2A Receptor; Subjective Experiences 00:52:33 Pharmacology: Therapeutics without Psychedelic Effects; SSRIs 00:58:45 Psilocybin & Depression; Long-Term Effects: Connectivity & Neuroplasticity 01:09:14 Sponsor: LMNT 01:10:26 Psilocybin Therapy & Anorexia 01:12:56 Integration Phase & Psychedelic-Therapy; Meditation 01:19:50 First-Time Psychedelic Use, “Entropic Brain Effect”, Neuroplasticity, Cognition 01:30:16 Fibromyalgia & Psychedelic Treatment; MDMA Therapy & “Inner Healer” 01:38:55 Placebo Response & Psychedelic Therapy 01:41:39 LSD & Psychedelic-Therapy, Micro-Dose 01:48:19 Combination Psilocybin-MDMA Therapy 01:56:06 DMT “Rocketship” & Serotonin 2A Receptors; Ibogaine 02:01:04 “Ego Dissolution”, Cocaine vs. Psychedelics; Relapses 02:12:26 Psychedelics & Legal Landscape; Decriminalization 02:17:54 MDMA, Trauma & Clinical Trials; Future Regulatory (FDA) Approval? 02:23:25 Psilocybin & Current Clinical Trials 02:28:41 Mental Health & Psychedelic Treatment, Safeguards, Paradigm Shift 02:34:39 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac - https://www.blabacphoto.com Disclaimer: https://hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

Andrew Huberman
host
Robin Carhart-Harris
guest
Narrator
other

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Andrew Huberman and Robin Carhart-Harris, The Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health | Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris explores psychedelics Rewire Depressed Brains: Inside Carhart-Harris’ Groundbreaking Trials Andrew Huberman interviews Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris about the science, mechanisms, and clinical applications of classic psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT, with a focus on depression and other difficult-to-treat conditions. Carhart-Harris explains what “psychedelic” really means, why subjective experience and ego dissolution matter, and how serotonin 2A receptor activation alters brain network dynamics. They review controlled trials showing rapid, often dramatic improvements in major depression, treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anorexia, and fibromyalgia, and contrast macrodosing with the more weakly supported practice of microdosing. The conversation concludes with emerging data on structural brain changes after a single psilocybin session, the coming FDA decisions on MDMA and psilocybin therapies, and the ethical, regulatory, and practical challenges of integrating these treatments into mainstream psychiatry.

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