Dispatch: The Neurobiology of Psychedelics Gordon Research Conference — Plasticity, Psychotherapy, and Perception (Part 1)

Editor's note: This content was originally reserved for our Pα+ subscribers, but is now free to read.

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The inaugural Neurobiology of Psychedelics Gordon Research Conference took place July 12th to 18th on the quiet campus of Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The conference, also referred to as the 'Psychedelic GRC', was an international meeting focused on advancing science through the presentation of research, lively discussion and fostering a sense of camaraderie and community among scientists at all stages of their careers.

With an attendance cap of 200 participants, the GRC is large enough to have big-name keynotes but small enough to promote inclusion of trainees. The presentations included talks on the fundamentals of neurobiology, behavioural aspects and drug discovery in the context of psychedelics and related psychoactive compounds.

The schedule was packed, with more than forty individual speakers comprising the main scientific sessions and over one hundred poster presentations throughout the week. Days began at 9:30am and continued until 9:30pm.

Given the fact that this lively schedule featured some of the field’s best and brightest, we asked Dr. Alaina Jaster to report back with a brief synopsis of what was discussed each day. 

In this first Dispatch, Dr. Jaster covers the Keynote Session plus the first day of the gathering. Her second Dispatch will cover days 2, 3, and 4. 

Editor's note: GRC has a strict publication policy; thus, the presenters referenced here provided consent for publication. Some of the speakers either did not consent or were not available to provide consent, and therefore were not included. As such, this is not an exhaustive recount of presentations.

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Words by Alaina Jaster, PhD, for Psychedelic Alpha.

The Keynote Session: The Science and Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics

The first day kicked off with a women-led keynote focused on the psychological and biological aspects of psychedelics’ therapeutic potential.

In her introductory remarks, Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), described a pendulum shift in the field and the potential that can be harnessed from these substances to develop new therapeutics. As long as “we don’t mess it up”, that is!

The first keynote was delivered by Dr. Rachel Yehuda (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States). As a leader in traumatic stress studies and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), her seminar focused on the role of psychotherapy in driving clinical outcomes for psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for PTSD.

After laying the groundwork surrounding the biological basis of trauma, Yehuda discussed the role of psychotherapy and recovery signals versus the drug effects during PAT. Of note, she described the Goldilocks problem of psychotherapy causing a hyperarousal state and pharmacotherapy inducing a hypoarousal state in those with PTSD. Her work, along with many...