How Psychedelics Rewire the Brain's Default Mode Network
How Do Psychedelics Change the Brain’s Default Mode Network?
Psychedelics consistently decrease connectivity within the Default Mode Network while increasing connections between the DMN and other brain networks, creating a more flexible and less rigid brain state that may explain their therapeutic effects. A systematic review of 28 studies published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology shows that psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca all produce similar patterns of DMN modulation, with these changes correlating with ego dissolution experiences and lasting therapeutic benefits.