Decomposing the psychedelic state: Insights from the brain, behaviour, and context

This thesis explores the diversity of psychedelic states through an integrative lens combining neuroimaging, behaviour, and subjective experience. Across five studies, it investigates how pharmacological differences between psychedelics, such as 2C-B, psilocybin, and ayahuasca, interact with contextual and individual factors to shape distinct states of consciousness. Using large-scale surveys, clinical trials, and high-field MRI, the work introduces new ways of comparing psychedelic compounds and capturing their neural and experiential fingerprints.
A key focus is placed on how context and individual brain organisation modulate drug effects. The findings argue against viewing psychedelics as a homogenous class and call for a more differentiated understanding grounded in both science and policy. This research informs future therapeutic use, while also highlighting the importance of personalised approaches and the risks of blanket regulatory responses to novel substances.