Golden State Today

In a recent episode of Berkeley Talks, UC Berkeley professors delved into the intriguing world of psychedelic science, shedding light on the evolution of psychedelic substances, their effects on the human brain and mind, and their potential therapeutic applications.

During the discussion, psychology Professor Gül Dölen emphasized the importance of post-trip care in maximizing the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic experiences. She remarked, "If it's true that the therapeutic effects are in part because we're returning to this state of susceptibility, and vulnerability, and ability to learn from our environment similar to childhood." Dölen further highlighted the need to focus on the weeks following a psychedelic experience to integrate insights gained during the trip into long-term behavioral changes.

Dölen also raised a cautionary note, stating, "We don't want to be opening up these critical periods and then, for example, returning people to a traumatic environment or exposing them to potentially bad actors … So we want to be very careful about the way that we take care of patients after they've been in this open state of the critical period."

The panelists, including Imran Khan, Gül Dölen, Daniela Kaufer, Noah Whiteman, and Michael Silver, engaged in a thought-provoking conversation on the subject, exploring the complexities of psychedelic science and its implications for therapy.

The podcast episode, released on March 27, 2024, provided valuable insights into the evolving field of psychedelic research. Listeners can watch the full discussion on the Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics' YouTube page and explore other episodes of Berkeley Talks for more engaging content.

Stay tuned for further developments and discussions on the future of psychedelic science from UC Berkeley's academic experts.