We are thrilled to announce the release of our most recent episode featuring Matthew Wall, PhD discussing fMRI and psychedelic research. In this episode we explore how researchers use fMRI scans to measure brain activity during psychedelic experiences. We also discuss the implications that these findings have on mental health research and treatment.
Matt Wall is a psychologist, neuroscientist and specialist in neuroimaging, particularly functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the human brain. He completed his PhD at Cambridge, and post-doctoral positions at Royal Holloway and UCL, and is currently head of MRI applications at Invicro London, plus an honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London. He has authored over 70 scientific publications, is an editor at Scientific Reports, and his research currently focuses on psychedelics, cannabis, sex hormones, and methods-development for fMRI.
His work has been featured by The Guardian, BBC Newsnight & Horizon documentaries as well as numerous academic journals such as Nature Neuroscience & Frontiers in Psychiatry among many others. This latest episode of Pod of Inquiry promises an insightful conversation with Dr. Matthew Wall about his fascinating work on this cutting-edge field so don’t miss out! It’s available now from all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts & Spotify or you can listen directly from our website www.podofinquiry.com Thank you for your continued support!
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Show Notes from this episode
Matt Wall is a psychologist, neuroscientist and specialist in neuroimaging, particularly functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the human brain. He completed his PhD at Cambridge, and post-doctoral positions at Royal Holloway and UCL, and is currently head of MRI applications at Invicro London, plus an honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London. He has authored over 70 scientific publications, is an editor at Scientific Reports, and his research currently focuses on psychedelics, cannabis, sex hormones, and methods-development for fMRI.
Dr. Barrett 00:47 Tell us about yourself
Dr. Wall 03:46 Discusses his journey
Dr. Wall 05:00 The interesting history of psychedelic research
Dr. Wall 05:53 fMRI study with, with ecstasy with MDMA
Dr. Wall 06:49 Talks about the startup companies
Dr. Wall 07:49 The lag time of fMRI
Dr. Wall 08:41 The physiology of fMRI
Dr. Wall 09:48 Other testing with EEG
Dr. Barrett 10:34 What about the difference between the deoxygenated and the oxygenated hemoglobin?
Dr. Wall 12:22 Overcompensation effect
Dr. Wall 13:53 Getting the “Picture”
Dr. Wall 15:37 You need generally you need at least two separate scan sessions
Dr. Barrett 18:56 Tell us about the default mode network
Dr. Wall 19:20 LSD is purely synthetic,
Dr. Wall 19:23 Discusses DMT and Ayahuasca
Dr. Wall 19:40 What are the “classic” psychedelics?
Dr. Barrett 21:13 What about oxytocin effects with MDMA?
Dr. Wall 21:18 Then you have ketamine, which is a glutamatergic drug completely different pharmacology
Dr. Wall 22:20 Ketamine is a bit more kind of dissociative rather than actual visual auditory hallucinations
Dr. Wall 25:36 One of the big advances we’ve made with fMRI over the last 20 years is really looking at the large-scale functional organization of the brain.
Dr. Wall 25:55 The brain networks
Dr. Wall 27:33 The classic psychedelics have this really profound effect on this standard pattern of brain organization.
Dr. Wall 31:04 The teeter totter of the default mode network
Dr. Wall 33:50 The disruptive effect on networks
Dr. Wall 34:28 The duration of effect
Dr. Wall 36:05 Neuroplasticity and the really profound flattening of the normal kind of hierarchy of brain organization
Dr. Wall 36:41 Shake up the Snowglobe
Dr. Wall 38:06 It’s psychedelic assisted psychotherapy.
Dr. Wall 40:11 MDMA for PTSD
Dr. Wall 42:03 A major trip
