Colorful, abstract painting of a sunset suggesting the effect of phychedellic drugs and machine leaning

Using AI-Machine Learning to Unravel Psychedelic Effects on Consciousness

Using machine learning, researchers track how changes in subjective awareness affect neurotransmitter systems

Written byTrevor Henderson, PhD
Updated | 2 min read
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Psychedelic drugs have long intrigued researchers due to their profound effects on perception and consciousness. A groundbreaking study conducted by a team of researchers from McGill University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, in collaboration with the Broad Institute at Harvard/MIT, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and Mila–Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, has shed light on how these substances interact with specific neurotransmitter receptor systems.

This first-of-its-kind study helps neuroscientists and clinical researchers understand how psychedelic drugs may be harnessed as therapeutic agents for disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.

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Graph showing relation between type of drug, descriptive words, and neurotransmitter
Danilo Bzdok

Mapping Psychedelic Experiences to Brain Chemistry

The study analyzed testimonials from 6,850 individuals who had taken 27 different psychedelic substances. Using a machine learning approach, researchers extracted common words and themes from these subjective reports and linked them to neurotransmitter systems. The findings revealed that the subjective experiences reported by users were strongly correlated with the brain regions most densely populated by these receptors. Notably, these regions were found deep within the brain’s processing centers.

Designing Psychedelic Drugs for Specific Mental States

One of the long-term goals of psychedelic research is to develop hallucinogenic compounds that can reliably produce desired mental states. This study provides valuable insight toward that goal. By employing thousands of gene transcription probes, the researchers generated a 3D map of brain receptors, effectively linking specific conscious experiences to their underlying neurochemical interactions.

While psychedelic experiences are often highly personal, the vast dataset allowed the researchers to identify consistent states of consciousness across different individuals.

Ego Dissolution and Its Neurochemical Basis

One of the most well-documented psychedelic-induced mental states is ego dissolution, a feeling of detachment from one’s sense of self. The study found that this phenomenon was most closely linked to the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. However, several other receptors were also identified as playing a role, including:

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  • Serotonin receptors (5-HT2C, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2B)
  • Adrenergic receptors (Alpha-2A and Beta-2)
  • Dopamine D2 receptor

Targeting these receptors with precision-designed drugs may help clinicians induce specific states of consciousness in patients who might benefit from such experiences.

The Future of Psychedelic Medicine

According to lead author Professor Danilo Bzdok, the study marks an important milestone in psychedelic research:

“Hallucinogenic drugs may very well turn out to be the next big thing to improve clinical care of major mental health conditions. Our study provides a first step, a proof of principle that we may be able to build machine learning systems in the future that can accurately predict which neurotransmitter receptor combinations need to be stimulated to induce a specific state of conscious experience in a given person.”

Implications for Mental Health Treatment

This research opens exciting possibilities for precision psychiatry. By fine-tuning how different receptor systems are activated, future therapies could tailor psychedelic experiences to treat conditions such as:

With psychedelic-assisted therapy gaining traction in clinical trials, this study paves the way for more targeted treatments that could revolutionize mental health care. By leveraging machine learning and neuroscience, researchers are beginning to unravel the mysteries of consciousness—one neurotransmitter at a time.

About the Author

  • Trevor Henderson headshot

    Trevor Henderson BSc (HK), MSc, PhD (c), has more than two decades of experience in the fields of scientific and technical writing, editing, and creative content creation. With academic training in the areas of human biology, physical anthropology, and community health, he has a broad skill set of both laboratory and analytical skills. Since 2013, he has been working with LabX Media Group developing content solutions that engage and inform scientists and laboratorians. He can be reached at thenderson@labmanager.com.

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