Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

10 papers

Effects of voluntary slow breathing on heart rate and heart rate variability: A systematic review and a meta-analysis

Sylvain Laborde, Mark S. Allen, Uirassu Borges, Fabrice Dosseville, Thomas J. Hosang, Maša Iskra, et al.
PubMed Summary & key facts 2022 205 citations

This 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 223 studies to see if voluntary slow breathing (VSB) changes heart rate variability that reflects parasympathetic (vagal) control of the heart. The authors found that VSB increased vagally-mediated heart rate variability during breathing sessions, right after a single session, and after…

Cardiac Health and Mental Health Cardiovascular and exercise physiology Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Caught in the thickness of brain fog: exploring the cognitive symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Anthony J. Ocon
Frontiers in Physiology Summary & key facts 2013 151 citations

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is defined as more than 6 months of new, disabling physical and mental tiredness that is not relieved by rest. Up to about 85% of people with CFS report cognitive problems called “brain fog,” described as slow thinking, trouble focusing, confusion, forgetfulness, or a hazy mind.…

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Benefits from one session of deep and slow breathing on vagal tone and anxiety in young and older adults

Valentin Magnon, Fréderic Dutheil, Guillaume T. Vallet
PubMed Summary & key facts 2021 124 citations

This clinical trial tested one session of deep and slow breathing (DSB) in 47 adults (22 older, 25 younger). After the single DSB session, high-frequency (HF) heart rate variability increased and self-reported state anxiety went down in both age groups. The rise in HF power was significantly larger in older…

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Behavioral Health and Interventions Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Improvement of cognitive functions by oral intake of <i>Hericium</i><i> erinaceus </i>

Yuusuke SAITSU, Akemi Nishide, Kenji Kikushima, Kuniyoshi Shimizu, Koichiro Ohnuki
Biomedical Research Summary & key facts 2019 74 citations

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, people took supplements containing the mushroom Hericium erinaceus for 12 weeks. The researchers gave three mental tests and found that only the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) showed a statistically significant improvement and less decline in the group taking the mushroom. The authors say compounds…

Fungal Biology and Applications Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection

Progressive brain changes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A longitudinal MRI study

Zack Shan, Richard Kwiatek, Richard Burnet, Peter Del Fante, Donald Staines, Sonya Marshall‐Gradisnik, et al.

The results suggested that CFS is associated with IFOF WM deficits which continue to deteriorate at an abnormal rate. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:1301-1311.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

The effectiveness of weighted blankets on sleep and everyday activities – A retrospective follow-up study of children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder

Vedrana Bolic Baric, Sofie Skuthälla, Malin Pettersson, Per Gustafsson, Anette Kjellberg

This retrospective study asked 85 people with ADHD and/or autism who had been prescribed weighted blankets about their sleep and daily routines. The participants reported that the blankets helped them fall asleep, sleep through the night, and relax during the day. Many also said their morning and evening routines (going…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children's Physical and Motor Development Infant Development and Preterm Care

Anxiety modulates the relation between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder severity and working memory-related brain activity

Dennis van der Meer, Pieter J. Hoekstra, Daan van Rooij, Anderson M. Winkler, Hanneke van Ewijk, Dirk J. Heslenfeld, et al.

Researchers scanned the brains of 371 adolescents and young adults (average age 17.1) while they did a visuospatial working memory task. They found that anxiety changed the link between how severe a person’s ADHD symptoms were and brain activity. Specifically, higher anxiety was linked with lower activity in the cerebellum…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Cognitive Functions and Memory Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Do I Have ADHD? Diagnosis of ADHD in Adulthood and Its Mimics in the Neurology Clinic

Susanna B. Mierau
Neurology Clinical Practice Summary & key facts 2024 1 citation

ADHD is a lifelong brain-development condition that makes it hard to keep attention, plan and organize, control impulses, be still, or manage emotions. Some people are diagnosed as children, while others first seek diagnosis as adults when life becomes less structured or family members recognize the pattern. Many other problems…

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children's Physical and Motor Development
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