The Science of Psychedelics with Neuroscientist Maria Balaet

Join us for an in-depth examination of traditional and modern psychedelics, including their benefits for mental health. Followed by Q+A. Psychedelic drugs have a tumultuous history. Indigenous communities have used them for healing and visionary experiences for thousands of years. More recently, they were discovered by Western society and became central to social and artistic movements in the 1960s before being banned worldwide. Now psychedelics are back in the spotlight and entering the mainstream, with clinical trials exploring their therapeutic use for mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and addiction. Groundbreaking science has uncovered that these substances have effects on the brain, affecting connectivity patterns that govern day-to-day functioning. This talk will cover the key findings coming from contemporary research with psychedelics, and hint at what is next in store for psychedelic science and the potential impact on society at large.