Your Brain on Psychedelics with Gul Dolen: how psychedelic drugs change brain networks and perception

Psychedelics can rapidly alter how the brain communicates, shifting activity patterns in ways that influence perception, emotion, and cognition. The conversation with neuroscientist Gul Dolen connects psychedelic effects to measurable changes in neural circuits and brain connectivity rather than only to subjective experience. It highlights why the drugs can feel meaningful, including how changes in network dynamics may affect how thoughts and sensations are integrated. The episode also places psychedelics in a broader translational context, discussing what this neuroscience implies for current and future clinical use, and why understanding the brain-level mechanisms matters for safety, dosing, and therapeutic outcomes.