Music and Psychedelic Experiences

Research has shown that music can enhance the effects of psychedelic experiences, creating a safe and supportive environment that leads to positive therapeutic outcomes (Barrett et al., 2018, Kaelen et al., 2015, Kaelen et al., 2018). For example, music has been observed to enhance processes such as finding meaning, exploring emotions, and imagining things during psychedelic experiences (Barrett et al., 2018, O’Callaghan et al., 2020).

Furthermore, studies have demonstrated that when psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”) is administered with music, it significantly improves outcomes in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) after just one week (Kaelen et al., 2018). Additionally, research has found that music can enhance the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide-25 (LSD) on brain areas related to emotions and memory, such as the insula and the posterior cingulate cortex (Preller et al., 2017). Since both music and psychedelics activate many of the same brain regions, they may positively influence each other's effects (Barrett et al., 2018, Kaelen et al., 2018). For example, psychedelics like LSD have been reported to enhance the brain's emotional response to music (Kaelen et al., 2015). Although ketamine and psychedelics have different chemical compositions, effects, and uses, they share some common cellular and downstream mechanisms (Johnston et al., 2024, Kadriu et al., 2021). The fact that music synergistically improves treatment outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD) when used with serotonergic psychedelics (Bonny and Pahnke, 1972, Kaelen et al., 2015, Kaelen et al., 2016) suggests that listening to music during ketamine administration may also enhance treatment outcomes.