Michael Silver explains psychedelic brain activity research
Updated
Updated · UC Berkeley · May 4
Michael Silver explains psychedelic brain activity research
9 articles · Updated · UC Berkeley · May 4
In a 101-second video, the UC Berkeley neuroscientist says his team is using brain imaging to record “movies” of people’s brains on psychedelics.
Silver, who directs the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, said researchers aim to link shifts in brain activity with changes in perception and consciousness.
He said a clearer mechanistic understanding could help develop more effective mental illness treatments, building on studies suggesting psychedelic experiences can produce enduring benefits in therapeutic settings.
Could mapping psychedelic-altered brain activity finally unlock the mysteries of consciousness, or are we just scratching the surface?
As psychedelic therapies gain ground, how will society address the balance between rapid access and potential long-term risks?
What role should traditional Indigenous knowledge play as Western science and policy accelerate the adoption of psychedelic treatments?
First Human Psilocybin Research at UC Berkeley Uncovers Neural Mechanisms Behind Altered Perception and Therapeutic Effects
Overview
In 2026, UC Berkeley launched its first human study on psilocybin, overcoming strict Schedule I regulations to build a research infrastructure that will ease future psychedelic studies. The study used fMRI to show that psilocybin reduces the brain's use of prior assumptions in visual processing, weakening suppression in the visual cortex and connectivity in the default mode network. These neural changes support the REBUS theory, which explains how psychedelics relax rigid negative beliefs, enabling cognitive flexibility and therapeutic breakthroughs. This research not only advances mental health treatments but also deepens our understanding of how the brain constructs perception and consciousness.