Essentials: Psychedelics for Treating Mental Disorders | Dr. Matthew Johnson

Essentials: Psychedelics for Treating Mental Disorders | Dr. Matthew Johnson

Huberman Lab · 2025-07-24

In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Matthew Johnson, PhD, a senior researcher for the Center of Excellence for Psilocybin Research and Treatment at Sheppard Pratt’s Institute for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics.We explore the science and therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine, including psilocybin, MDMA and LSD. We discuss how these substances can profoundly alter perception and self-identity, providing long-lasting relief from depression, addiction and trauma when used in controlled clinical settings. We also discuss microdosing and emerging research on psychedelics’ potential to support recovery from neurological injuries. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanDavid: https://davidprotein.com/hubermanBetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/hubermanTimestamps00:00:00 Matthew Johnson; Psychedelics00:01:44 Different Classes of Psychedelics00:04:33 Psychedelics & Altering Models00:06:18 Sponsor: David00:07:33 LSD, Psylocibin & Serotonin00:09:55 Psychedelic Clinical Trials00:13:40 Therapy, Trust, Psychedelics00:16:47 Letting Go & Psychedelic Experience, Self-Representation, Lasting Changes00:22:31 Sponsors: AG1 & BetterHelp00:25:26 MDMA, Dopamine & Serotonin; Bad Trips & Transcendental Experience00:28:49 Dangers of Psychedelics00:31:11 Microdosing Psychedelics, Antidepressant00:35:27 Head Injuries, Psychedelics, Depression00:38:29 AcknowledgementsDisclaimer & DisclosuresLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huberman Lab

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.
Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017.
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets.
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

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