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Home/Research/LSD/Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

LSD for Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

82 papers and 19 clinical trials exploring lsd as a treatment for neuroimaging & brain measures.

Compoundclassic psychedelic

LSD

LSD is a classic psychedelic ergoline with high potency at microgram doses and an 8-12 hour duration of action, mediated primarily via 5-HT2A receptor agonism. Modern Phase IIb data in generalised anxiety disorder and FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MM120 have reignited clinical development.

Full LSD profile
IndicationApproximately 264 million people globally suffer from depression, with PTSD affecting around 8 million adults in the United States each year.

Neuroimaging & Brain Measures

Recent advances in neuroimaging have shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelics, particularly in the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression and PTSD. Studies involving compounds like psilocybin and MDMA have demonstrated significant changes in brain activity associated with therapeutic outcomes.

Full Neuroimaging & Brain Measures profile

Academic Research

82 papers
Open Accessmeta

Reorganization of Human Brain Waves Across Diverse States of Consciousness

This brain imaging study analysed data from healthy people in sleep, propofol anaesthesia and psychedelic states, including LSD, DMT, psilocybin, nitrous oxide and ketamine, to map how brain waves spread across the brain. It found that sleep and anaesthesia slowed and fragmented global wave propagation, while psychedelic states sped it up and made it more evenly distributed.

Published
June 1, 2026
Journal
Biorxiv
Authors
Fotiadis, P., Jang, H., Dai, R., Li, D., Cofré, R., Timmermann, C., Mashour, G. A., Hudetz, A. G., Huang, Z.
Open Accessindividual

LSD Relaxes Structural Constraints on Brain Dynamics: A Connectome Harmonic MEG Study

This re-analysis of a brain imaging study (n=17) used magnetoencephalography (MEG) in people given LSD or placebo and found that LSD loosened the usual link between brain structure and low-frequency activity, while gamma activity changed in a more selective way. Changes in default-mode network regions were linked to stronger feelings of ego dissolution.

Published
May 29, 2026
Journal
Biorxiv
Authors
Subramani, V., Pascarella, A., Brunel, J., Harel, Y., Muthukumaraswamy, S., Carhart-Harris, R., Jerbi, K., Lioi, G., Farrugia, N.
Paywallindividual

Predicting and exploring ayahuasca effects: Perception, mind-wandering, and EEG oscillations

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 50 volunteers, ayahuasca produced robust perceptual, emotional and mystical experiences alongside EEG changes (notably reduced global alpha and increased frontomedial delta and right-posterior theta/beta), with acute lower theta linked to stronger mystical effects and baseline theta and beta oscillations predicting interoceptive and emotional responses.

Published
December 4, 2025
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Silva-Costa, N., Pessoa, J. A., Andrade, K. C., Mota-Rolim, S., Palhano-Fontes, F., Araujo, D. B., Wießner, I.
Open Accessindividual

A Virtual Clinical Trial of Psychedelics to Treat Patients With Disorders of Consciousness

Using individualised whole‑brain computational modelling fitted to fMRI and diffusion MRI, the authors simulated administration of LSD and psilocybin and applied in silico perturbations to compare states of consciousness and assess treatment effects in disorders of consciousness. Simulated psychedelics shifted patients' brain dynamics closer to criticality—especially in the minimally conscious state—with responses in UWS linked to structural connectivity and in MCS to baseline functional connectivity, providing a computational rationale for psychedelic therapies and personalised prediction.

Published
November 20, 2025
Journal
Advanced Science
Authors
Alnagger, N. L., Cardone, P., Martial, C., Perl, Y. S., Mindlin, I., Sitt, J. D., Roseman, L., Carhart‐Harris, R., Nutt, D., Mallaroni, P., Mason, N., Ramaekers, J. G., Bonhomme, V., Laureys, S., Deco, G., Gosseries, O., Núñez, P., Annen, J.
Open Accessindividual

Molecular, haemodynamic, and functional effects of LSD in the human brain

Using simultaneous PET–MRI in healthy volunteers, this first integrated molecular and functional neuroimaging study quantifies LSD occupancy at cerebral serotonin 2A receptors and establishes a dose–occupancy relationship while revealing an anticlockwise hysteresis between plasma levels and subjective effects. LSD produced distinct haemodynamic and functional changes — increasing global cerebral and internal carotid artery flow without altering artery diameter and reducing global connectivity (GCOR), with GCOR changes negatively correlated with CBF and differing from effects of psilocybin — findings relevant to clinical development.

Published
June 18, 2025
Journal
MedRvix
Authors
McCulloch, D. E-W., Larsen, K., Johansen, A., Johansen, S. S., Jensen, P. S., Reveles Jensen, K. H., Holze, F., Falck, N., Neufeld, V., Steenstrup, E., Andersen, T. L., Skov-Andersen, P., Spanggård, A., Geisler, M., Randrup, P. P., Shulganov, V., Nielsen, M. K. K., Svarer, C., Fisher, P. M., Knudsen, G. M., Nykjær, C. H., Stenbæk, D. S.
Open Accessindividual

Knocking at the Doors of Perception: Relating LSD Effects on Low-Frequency Fluctuations and Regional Homogeneity to Receptor Densities in fMRI

This analysis of fMRI data (n=15) examined how LSD (75μg) affects local brain activity and connectivity, finding that LSD decreased both measures in somatosensory/visual areas, with additional activity decreases in Default Mode and Fronto-Parietal networks and connectivity decreases in subcortical regions, with these changes occurring primarily in brain regions with high densities of D2 and 5HT1a receptors, suggesting complex neurobiological mechanisms underlying LSD's effects.

Published
June 6, 2025
Journal
Authorea
Authors
La-Torraca-Vittori, P., Tarchi, L., Arrigo, E., Lanterna, S., Tosi, E., Doose, A., Palesi, F., Pischedda, D., Ricca, V., Fusar-Poli, P., Damiani, S.

Clinical Trials

19 trials
RecruitingPhase I

Direct Comparison of Altered States of Consciousness Induced by LSD, Psilocybin, and DMT in Healthy Participants (LPD)

This randomised, placebo-controlled, triple-blind Phase I crossover trial (n=24) will compare the acute and subacute effects of LSD (150µg), psilocybin (30mg), and DMT (up to 2 mg/min intravenous infusion) in healthy adults, with all sessions standardised using ketanserin (20 mg IV) to end the psychedelic experience after three hours.

Started
April 1, 2025
Type
interventional
Blinding
triple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT06899334
CompletedPhase NA

LSD-Perceptual-Choice-Study (LUCY)

This randomized, double-blinded, crossover trial (n=30) aims to characterise the effects of low doses of LSD on behavioural and neural indicators of feedback and feedforward signalling in perceptual decision-making.

Started
February 20, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05976698
CompletedPhase I

Effect of Ketanserin, Olanzapine, and Lorazepam After LSD Administration on the Acute Response to LSD in Healthy Subjects (LBL)

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (n=20) conducted by the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, aims to investigate the effects of ketanserin, olanzapine, and lorazepam administered after LSD (150µg) on the acute response to LSD in healthy subjects.

Started
February 1, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05964647
Active not recruitingPhase I

LSD Occupancy of the Serotonin 2A Receptor in the Human Brain (dOccLS)

Early‑Phase interventional dose-ranging study (n=40) assessing LSD single doses (25–200 µg) to quantify 5‑HT2A receptor occupancy in healthy participants using [11C]CIMBI‑36 PET/MR.

Started
November 8, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT05953038
RecruitingPhase II

LSD Treatment for Persons With Alcohol Use Disorder (LYSTA)

Double-blind, randomised, active placebo-controlled parallel study (n=126) testing two LSD doses (150 µg; second session 150 or 250 µg) versus low-dose active placebo (10 µg) for alcohol use disorder.

Started
January 1, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05474989
Unknown statusPhase I/II

The Effect of LSD on Neural Synchrony, Prosocial Behavior, and Relationship Quality

This double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (n=60) investigates the effects of LSD on neural synchrony, prosocial behavior, and relationship quality in healthy romantic couples.

Started
January 1, 2023
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05670184

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