Subacute and long-term changes in cognitive functioning after administration of classic psychedelics, MDMA and ketamine: A systematic review of clinical and preclinical evidence.
Catherine Kelly, Bart J Cooley, Lilith Zeng et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined the subacute and long-term cognitive effects of classic psychedelics, MDMA, and ketamine in both clinical and preclinical studies. It found that psilocybin consistently improved cognitive flexibility and attention, while ketamine showed variable enhancements across cognitive domains. The review included 67 studies, highlighting the need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings.
Key findings
- Psilocybin showed consistent subacute cognitive improvements, particularly in cognitive flexibility and attention.
- Ketamine demonstrated heterogeneous enhancements across various cognitive domains.
- MDMA was linked to transient cognitive impairments that resolved within days.
- Cognitive improvements were more common in psychiatric populations than in healthy subjects.
Why it matters
Understanding the cognitive effects of psychedelics could inform treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders, particularly in enhancing cognitive functions that are often impaired in these populations. This knowledge may lead to novel therapeutic approaches.
What to keep in mind
The review noted issues such as selective outcome reporting and inadequate methodological detail, which limit the confidence in the findings.