LSD reconfigures cortical dynamics through faster brain rhythms and increased fractal dimension.

LSD increases alpha and beta peak frequencies by up to 20 Hz and enhances neural complexity, while decreasing oscillatory power across cortical regions.

• Why it matters: Understanding how psychedelics alter brain dynamics is crucial for insights into consciousness and potential therapeutic applications, yet the electrophysiological mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: Using source-resolved MEG, spectral parameterization, and machine learning, the study analyzed neural activity in 20 healthy volunteers under LSD and placebo, with and without music, focusing on oscillatory and aperiodic features.
• The result: LSD induces distinct neural signatures, including peak-frequency shifts, flatter spectral slopes, and increased fractality, primarily in sensory and emotional networks, enabling differentiation of psychedelic states from other conditions.