Really excited for this to come out in @TrendsCognSci!

We propose a novel framework for understanding psychedelic large-scale brain action that draws from complexity science

W/ @_fernando_rosas, @RCarhartHarris, @adamgazz and others

A thread (1/n)

authors.elsevier.com/a/1gXLX4sIRvPMcR

Much previous work applying fMRI to characterize the acute psychedelic experience has focused on changes to specific regions/networks

Although this has revealed broadly consistent trends (e.g., decreased fnl segregation bt most networks), specifics have been largely inconsistent

Here, we argue that this search for a consistent spatially-specific neural pattern represents the persistence of an outmoded 'locationist' account of brain function that assumes that focal one-to-one mappings exist between given regions/networks and psychological processes

Instead, we propose that psychedelic brain effects may be better captured by a perspective - based in complexity science - that foregrounds the distributed, interactional, and dynamic nature of brain function

This novel perspective characterizes psychedelic brain action in terms of whole-brain dynamical properties

In other words, it abstracts from specific regions/networks, and instead focuses on the systems-level relational and dynamical properties of the brain as a whole

More specifically, we draw on complex systems findings w/ and w/o psychedelics and propose that psychedelic induce a mode of dynamical brain function that is more flexible, diverse, globally integrated, and tuned for information sharing - consistent with greater criticality

See the paper for how this perspective may help explain psychedelic inter-individual variability, sensitivity to set and setting, as well as for how it aligns with micro/meso scale neurobiological mechanisms :)

unroll @threadreaderapp