Read more about this hypothesis in our recent publication in Frontiers of Pharmacology. 

Introduction:
Have you ever heard how psychedelics like psilocybin produce those profound, mind-expanding experiences where everything feels deeply connected? Do you wonder why some drugs, like psychedelics, have this effect on people?

Several pharmaceutical companies are currently running clinical trials with psychedelics to learn more about their properties and the reasons why their effects can be so strong.

At NetraMark, we use our AI technology to help better understand which patients benefit best from each class of drugs. We recently published a paper in Frontiers of Pharmacology that explores a new hypothesis linking psychedelic effects to quantum processes and includes experiments that could be used to investigate it.

Psychedelic Effects:
Psychedelics (like LSD or psilocybin) mainly act on a brain receptor called 5-HT2A. This leads to:

• More communication between brain regions
• Increased brain “flexibility” (less rigid thinking)
• Activation of growth-related pathways (neuroplasticity)

They increase signals like glutamate and trigger pathways (like BDNF and mTOR) that help neurons grow and reorganize.

The Hypothesis:
The paper proposes a speculative idea:

Psychedelics might not only affect brain chemistry —
they may also involve quantum-level processes inside the brain.

Could psychedelics work partly by affecting very small (quantum-level) processes in the brain, not just normal chemistry?

• The hypothesis is plausible but unproven
• It is designed to be falsifiable (can be proven wrong)

In our recent publication, we detail how the underlying causes may be investigated through a proposed set of testable experiments.

Example Experimental Ideas:

1. 1. 1. Isotope experiments
         Change atoms in drugs (e.g., lithium or hydrogen isotopes)
         See if effects change beyond normal chemistry
      2. Magnetic field experiments
         Apply magnetic fields to the brain during psychedelic use
         If effects change, this could suggest quantum spin involvement
      3. Detection of “Posner molecules”
         Use imaging or spectroscopy to detect tiny calcium-phosphate clusters in neurons
      4. Brain signal measurements
         Look for unusual synchronized brain activity that cannot be explained normally

1. 
   The Impact:
2. Even if uncertain, the idea is exciting because it could:

1. 1. Change how we understand the brain
      – The brain might use quantum processes, not just classical biology
      – Could explain things we don’t fully understand (like consciousness or variability in drug response)
   2. Enable new technologies
      – New types of brain imaging (quantum-sensitive MRI, MEG)
      – Better tools to measure very small neural events
   3. Enable new experiments
      Scientists can test:
      – Spin effects
      – Magnetic sensitivity
      – Molecular-level brain processes

How does this relate to drug development?

1. Explaining variability in response
   Today, some patients respond to psychedelics, others don’t.
   This hypothesis suggests that differences in calcium, phosphate, or spin-related biology could explain that variability.
2. New drug design variables
   If proven, drug developers could consider:
   – Nuclear spin properties
   – Isotope composition
   – Magnetic sensitivity
   
   This would add new design parameters beyond:
   – Receptor binding
   – Dose
   – Pharmacokinetics
   
   
3. New biomarkers and enrichment strategies
   The paper explicitly suggests using biological markers (calcium/phosphate metabolism) or even spin-related properties to identify patients more likely to respond and improve clinical trial design. 
4. Better clinical trials
   It could enable:
   – More precise patient selection
   – Mechanism-based stratification
   – New types of interventions (e.g., combining drugs with magnetic fields or isotopes)
   

Conclusion: 

Psychedelics clearly change brain signaling and increase flexibility. This paper proposes a new idea: that they might also involve quantum-level effects. The idea is not proven, but it is testable.

If supported with experimental evidence, it could:

• Change neuroscience
• Create new drug design approaches
• Improve patient selection in trials

Read more about this hypothesis in our recent publication in Frontiers of Pharmacology.