Psychedelic research is gaining popularity due both to the great therapeutic potential in treatment of depression and anxiety and due to the great popular interest in the ability of psychedelics to modulate conscious experience. Due to the crackdown on psychedelic research in the past 40 years, there is a great lack of knowledge of exactly how these molecules affect the brain at the cellular and molecular levels. Our lab is delving into these issues with the goal of uncovering how conscious experiences are modulated in the brain and to fine tune the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

Our most recent research is discovering the molecular mechanisms through which psychedelics may induce anxiety in the short term, and how this can be prevented. 

Recent publications:

The psychedelic psilocybin and light exposure have similar and synergistic effects on gene expression patterns in the visual cortex. Harari R, Getselter D, Elliott E.Mol Brain. 2025 Mar 18;18(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s13041-025-01191-0.PMID: 40102929 

Psilocybin induces acute anxiety and changes in amygdalar phosphopeptides independently from the 5-HT2A receptor. Harari R, Chatterjee I, Getselter D, Elliott E.iScience. 2024 Apr 9;27(5):109686. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109686. eCollection 2024 May 17.PMID: 38660396