Octopuses on Ecstasy

On Ecstasy, Octopuses Reached Out for a Hug

The generally asocial animals became more social.

AOC Pushes For Shrooms

AOC Pushes To Make It Easier To Study Shrooms And Other Psychedelic Drugs

 Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) filed legislation on Friday to remove a legal barrier that scientists say makes it unnecessarily difficult for them to study the medical benefits of psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA.

Mushrooms Could Replace Antidepressants

Magic mushrooms could replace antidepressants within five years, says new psychedelic research centre

participants describe a cathartic emotional “release” with psilocybin therapy – the polar opposite of antidepressants, which patients complain leave their emotions, whether positive or negative, “blunted”.

“I would imagine if you had some bookmakers doing the odds, there would be strong odds on that [psychedelic therapy] will be licensed sometime in the next five to 10 years – maybe sooner,” Professor Carhart-Harris says.

the evidence to date suggests it is the combination of therapy and psychedelic experience that offers the best option of a lasting alternative to chronic antidepressants.

Brief Meditation Similar to Vacation

Study: 15-minutes of meditation associated with similar effects as a day of vacation

On days the participants meditated, they reported lower levels of negative emotions such as irritation and higher levels of positive emotions such as gratefulness. They also scored higher on several facets of mindfulness.

We found that just 15-minutes of meditation was associated with similar effects as a day of vacation on aspects of mindfulness.

Oakland Decriminalizes Mushrooms

Oakland becomes 2nd US city to legalize magic mushrooms

Meditation App Improves Attention and Memory

Algorithm that Tailors Digital Meditation Program Improves Attention and Memory

A very simple breath meditation app was tested.  It asks whether your mindfulness was continuous for the practice period.  If yes, it will extend your meditation next time, if no if will decrease it.

Meditation Aids Relationships

Your meditation practice may reduce negative emotions in the people you interact with.

“The primary result from this study is that during periods when someone meditated, their study partner (someone they interacted with regularly) reported lower negative emotions”

More on Griffiths' Psilocybin and Meditation Study

More on Griffiths et al. 2017

Study found large increases in altruism, positive behavior change, and spirituality in the psilocybin groups that are unlikely to be by chance.

Also did not find the long term change in openness that previous studies found.  And no change in day to day spiritual practice.