Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A April 2016 PMID 27071089

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging.

Robin L Carhart-Harris, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Leor Roseman, Mendel Kaelen, Wouter Droog, Kevin Murphy, Enzo Tagliazucchi, Eduardo E Schenberg, Timothy Nest, Csaba Orban, Robert Leech, Luke T Williams, Tim M Williams, Mark Bolstridge, Ben Sessa

Mentions

379
Peak: 3 in Aug 2022
across 7 sources since Apr 2016

Extended reach

107,442
potential audience

Total likes

105

Video views

6,323

Mentions per month

Apr 2016 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News248 articles
  • Facebook47 posts
  • Blogs44 articles
  • X / Twitter20 posts
  • Reddit17 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reveals a mix of curiosity and support, with posts highlighting the importance of brain activity changes linked to hallucinations and ego dissolution, exemplified by phrases like 'great study' and references to neural connectivity. Words like 'transforming' and mentions of 'neural correlates' reflect an appreciation of the research's significance, while some comments suggest skepticism or a desire for deeper explanations.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the findings of the neuroimaging study and show general support, such as references to how LSD affects brain activity related to sensory processing and ego dissolution.

InterestHigh interest

Posts display high interest in the subject, with mentions of the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelics, connections to ego death, and the neural mechanisms involved.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several social discussions reference specific neural regions and methodological details, indicating some level of meaningful engagement, though many simply acknowledge the study's significance without deep analysis.

ImpactModerate impact

The conversations suggest that the research could influence how we understand consciousness and mental health, though opinions on its immediate practical impact are more cautious.

Abstract in brief

  • The study used advanced neuroimaging techniques to examine how LSD affects the human brain during rest, revealing significant changes in brain activity that relate to its psychedelic effects.
  • LSD increased activity in the visual cortex, such as blood flow and connectivity, which strongly correlates with visual hallucinations, but these visual effects were not linked to the drug's impact on consciousness or ego dissolution.
  • Conversely, reductions in connectivity between specific brain regions like the parahippocampus and retrosplenial cortex were closely related to feelings of ego loss and altered meaning, highlighting the neural basis of LSD's effects on self-awareness and perception of meaning.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
David B. Yaden
@ExistWell · X

@ManojDoss @bogglerapture I haven’t checked this figure carefully yet but it’s a combination of a couple studies that gives a sense for factor differences across substances https://t.co/FkjiE7DyA7 https://t.co/KDnB4Hh8h6 https://t.co/0irfpajTgK

Jan 20, 2023 · 8 likes · 7,189 followers View post →
yogacid
@yogacid · X

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging: https://t.co/LHtDIShoBk https://t.co/MkzsfJiXrR

Jan 14, 2021 · 6 likes · 3,925 followers View post →
Robin Carhart-Harris
@RCarhartHarris · X

@ManojDoss @ETagliazucchi Fair enough, this effect in the hippo is the opposite direction to the network level decreases in 'signal variance' or signal fluctuation amplitude reported here: https://t.co/uVvQz2G86y https://t.co/eZyBQaAiTW

Apr 13, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 65,443 followers View post →
Quotidian Vogue
@Quotidian_Vogue · X

@alyssamvance If consciousness is a controlled hallucination then LSD is just a more vivid hallucination. One thing that LSD significantly affected me with was ego dissolution, & getting off the hedonic treadmill of consumerism in my late teens, and early twenties. https://t.co/Vv95YBl0N9

Jun 21, 2022 · 4 likes · 244 followers View post →
Leor Roseman
@LeorRoseman · X

Within here is the LSD replication https://t.co/VlegCfjDV0 https://t.co/a2MeymDhpB

Jun 6, 2023 · 3 likes · 4,947 followers View post →
Leor Roseman
@LeorRoseman · X

@EricFeczko @m_wall @UltradelicHQ @SashaSisko @RCarhartHarris @DavidErritzoe @bartferguson @ProfDavidNutt since 2016 we are including bandpass, and many other preprocessing procedures. You can check the pipeline we used and still using in most studies since then: https://t.co/VlegCfjDV0

Aug 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 4,947 followers View post →

All mentions

Understanding the Neuroscience of Psychedelics

This video explores the neuroscience behind psychedelics, referencing comprehensive studies on brain function and consciousness. Notable works include insights from Carhart-Harris and Friston on unifying brain action…

Ramzy Abueita · Jul 9, 2022 246 views
Rose Hill Life Sciences
@RHLifeSciences · X

Discover how ps!locyb!n is transforming mental health! Research shows it can ease depression & anxiety in safe, guided settings. Visit our website: https://t.co/LBK2qEQ3G5 References -https://t.co/arhsvXtMKr -https://t.co/KfAkGHyuri -https://t.co/dMMKE98hs0 https://t.co/0fRfiHBf9V

Oct 21, 2025 · 31 followers View post →
artisbrutal2021
@artisbrutal2021 · X

"Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging" Robin L Carhart-Harris et al. https://t.co/4Bfj18uO3U Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London * Centre for Neurotechnology https://t.co/zey9ZPzCEs https://t.co/FDoJ2B75Y9

Jun 17, 2025 · 1 like · 6,913 followers View post →
Detectwo
@detectwo · X

https://t.co/FUO7diByUf

May 19, 2025 · 179 followers View post →
Hard Inquiry
@Hard_Inquiry · X

@RAshfyre @worldviewdesign I get it. You really, really want me to be wrong. It seems to me like you're just trying to confirm your biases, and aren't looking much further into it than that. Here's the actual paper: https://t.co/T6sZTRuRop

Feb 19, 2025 · 33 followers View post →
Trevor Ratliff
@TrevorRatliff13 · X

Any experts wanna help me out? https://t.co/OlZV0JvTCi LSD will increase the effectiveness of the parts of the brain responsible for gathering input data from sensory organs and decrease those parts of the brain related to the default mode network, which has been responsible

Dec 8, 2024 · 327 followers View post →
Jay
@JayMysterioZA · X

@SPR1882 Psychedelics work by reducing measurable brain activity, (Ayahuasca: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118143, LSD: 10.1073/pnas.1518377113, Psilocybin: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118143). It is not surprising that it has similiarities to death (end of measurable brain activity)

Sep 1, 2024 · 68 followers View post →
Leor Roseman
@LeorRoseman · X

Within here is the LSD replication https://t.co/VlegCfjDV0 https://t.co/a2MeymDhpB

Jun 6, 2023 · 3 likes · 4,947 followers View post →
David B. Yaden
@ExistWell · X

@ManojDoss @bogglerapture I haven’t checked this figure carefully yet but it’s a combination of a couple studies that gives a sense for factor differences across substances https://t.co/FkjiE7DyA7 https://t.co/KDnB4Hh8h6 https://t.co/0irfpajTgK

Jan 20, 2023 · 8 likes · 7,189 followers View post →
Leituras Do Dia
@Leituradodia · X

https://t.co/BE7QgTOF6O

Dec 10, 2022 · 157 followers View post →
neuroprompter
@neuroprompter · X

@CoffeeVectors @_andreaswacker This is a great study which also make connections with "ego death": https://t.co/CjMVTsB6VT

Nov 5, 2022 · 2,075 followers View post →
Pedro
@uapdog · X

https://t.co/T7wwDFgree

Oct 9, 2022 · 1,939 followers View post →
Eric J Feczko
@EricFeczko · X

RT @LeorRoseman: @EricFeczko @m_wall @UltradelicHQ @SashaSisko @RCarhartHarris @DavidErritzoe @bartferguson @ProfDavidNutt since 2016 we ar…

Aug 18, 2022 · 1 share · 544 followers View post →
Leor Roseman
@LeorRoseman · X

@EricFeczko @m_wall @UltradelicHQ @SashaSisko @RCarhartHarris @DavidErritzoe @bartferguson @ProfDavidNutt since 2016 we are including bandpass, and many other preprocessing procedures. You can check the pipeline we used and still using in most studies since then: https://t.co/VlegCfjDV0

Aug 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 4,947 followers View post →
Eric J Feczko
@EricFeczko · X

@SashaSisko @RCarhartHarris Just read the LSD paper, also much better, but slight differences in design and processing from the psilocybin papers are interesting. https://t.co/hFqjy7RTPh Might be good to check this out too — though it’s dense. https://t.co/LFFUcsUiSK

Aug 15, 2022 · 544 followers View post →
Quotidian Vogue
@Quotidian_Vogue · X

@alyssamvance If consciousness is a controlled hallucination then LSD is just a more vivid hallucination. One thing that LSD significantly affected me with was ego dissolution, & getting off the hedonic treadmill of consumerism in my late teens, and early twenties. https://t.co/Vv95YBl0N9

Jun 21, 2022 · 4 likes · 244 followers View post →
Matthew Nour
@Matt_Nour · X

@ThosVarley @Josh__Hardman Agreed - that's why the electro/magnetoencephalography studies are informative. No-doubt you've come across these, but for ease of reference: https://t.co/qTdb5BUgU0 https://t.co/5Y9EUCJND7 https://t.co/QXgfNHo99J

May 19, 2022 · 1 like · 1,490 followers View post →
Robin Carhart-Harris
@RCarhartHarris · X

@ManojDoss @ETagliazucchi Fair enough, this effect in the hippo is the opposite direction to the network level decreases in 'signal variance' or signal fluctuation amplitude reported here: https://t.co/uVvQz2G86y https://t.co/eZyBQaAiTW

Apr 13, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 65,443 followers View post →
Roman
@romantoeman · X

Any favorite peer-reviewed articles in #psychedelicscience , related to cog sci (not therapy or general psychology)?Picking an article to review for a class! Currently looking at this classic from @RCarhartHarris but maybe need something more accessible https://t.co/HnUwaqHTEn

Mar 31, 2021 · 2 likes · 80 followers View post →
yogacid
@yogacid · X

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging: https://t.co/LHtDIShoBk https://t.co/MkzsfJiXrR

Jan 14, 2021 · 6 likes · 3,925 followers View post →
Haska Sun
@haska_sun · X

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging https://t.co/XqtwYVBDgF

Jun 5, 2019 · 39 followers View post →
The vOICe vision BCI
@seeingwithsound.bsky.social · Bluesky

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2016/04/05/1518377113.long Expanded V1 functional connectivity

Apr 16, 2016 View post →