The Bloom #151 Free Edition yin and yang

It's with a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of my friend and amazing editor, Ken Jordan. He was a cornerstone of the psychedelic ecosystem, he'll be missed dearly.

Please find the official announcement from Lucid News here (where you can also become a member and continue the legacy he's built).

​

In psychedelic research news, coincidentally, several articles cover the relationship between psychedelics and death anxiety. I cover these and an exciting paper on AlphaFold2 and the serotonin 2a receptor below.

Floris - Founder of Blossom

ps There are a few tickets left for our satellite gathering at ICPR on Wednesday, June 5th. I hope to see you there.

1 AlphaFold2 structures guide prospective ligand discovery​

This prospective docking study compares the effectiveness of docking large libraries against unrefined AlphaFold2 (AF2) models of σ2 and 5-HT2A receptors with docking against experimental structures. It finds high and similar hit rates and affinities for both AF2 and experimental structures, despite conformational differences in orthosteric residues, and suggests that AF2 models, while differing from experimental structures, are still relevant and effective for structure-based ligand discovery.

For more on how psychedelics bind to receptors, specifically for 5-MeO-DMT, please see Structural pharmacology and therapeutic potential of 5-methoxytryptamines​

2 How Do Psychedelics Reduce Fear of Death?​

This theory-building paper (2024) examines how psychedelic experiences reduce fear of death by promoting non-physicalist metaphysical beliefs. It supports the "Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics" (REBUS) model over other models of psychedelic therapy and argues that these belief changes undermine the use of psychedelics in naturalizing spirituality within the "neuroexistentialist" framework.

3 Investigating the relationship between changes in metaphysical beliefs and death anxiety following a significant psychedelic experience​

This exploratory study (n=155) investigates the relationship between changes in metaphysical beliefs and death anxiety following a significant psychedelic experience. It finds a significant overall reduction in death anxiety, with improvements correlated positively with increased belief in panpsychism, while no other metaphysical beliefs showed a correlation.

More new research

• ​Intranasal ketamine for acute cluster headache attacks—Results from a proof-of-concept open-label trial​
• ​Experiences of Awe Mediate Ketamine's Antidepressant Effects: Findings From a Randomized Controlled Trial in Treatment-Resistant Depression​
• ​Navigating Groundlessness: An interview study on dealing with ontological shock and existential distress following psychedelic experiences​
• ​Barriers to Esketamine Nasal Spray Treatment Among Adults With Treatment-Resistant Depression​
• ​LSD flattens the hierarchy of directed information flow in fast whole-brain dynamics​

New on Blossom

1 Psychedelic Research Recap April 2024​

This April, psychedelic research dives deep into the mechanisms by which this group of compounds work their magic. We look at both the psychological level – at cognitive flexibility & the ‘inner healer’ concept – as well as the neurological level – battling it out between the 2a & 1a serotonin receptors.

After mechanisms, we will take a closer look at two articles that look at the challenges that come with psychedelic research. The first explores the side effects seen in psychedelic studies, the second investigates the influence of the placebo effect in ketamine studies for depression. We will then remain in the risky corner when discussing two articles that pit MDMA against another amphetamine (meth).

For the final two sections, we’ll first review the literature on 5-MeO-DMT, maybe the most reality-breaking psychedelic of them all (though your reviewer hasn’t tried salvia, so take my opinion with a grain of salt). After that, we will tackle research in areas where psychedelics are showing promise outside of the well-known indications (PTSD, depression, anxiety). The areas that were researched last month include functional seizures, personality disorders, and chronic cluster headaches.

2 Psychedelic Research Links 2024​

All the other papers that have come out this year that don't have a separate entry in the database.

Spotlight

1 The Psychedelic Professionals Networking Club (Event)

The second gathering for The Psychedelic Professionals Networking Club is scheduled for May 30th.

Carly and her team at StudioDelic are excited to cultivate more magical connections with you all!

Join them to expand your network and collaborate with other psychedelic professionals in this unique and exciting field.

The next event will take place May 30th @ 4 pm PST / 7 pm EST.

Register with a discount using this link.

Molenvaart 76, Anna Paulowna, NH 1761AL
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​