The neuroscience of psychedelic drugs, music and nostalgia

Research has demonstrated a strong connection between music and memory. In fact, Psychedelic Neuroscientist Frederick Streeter Barrett studied the deep connection between music and nostalgia, explaining that music has the ability to evoke meaningful experiences and memories and connect us to our sense of self. He moved a step further to study how music could evoke responses during a psychedelic experience. In doing so, he learned that there are both acute and long-term effects of psychedelic experiences on the brain, cognition, and emotions. With controlled psychedelic substances, there is a potential to alter the entire brain for a period of time and thus provide relief from negative emotions that cloud the mind. Capturing this controlled relief, Frederick's research suggests that, under the right conditions, psychedelics may have the potential to treat a wide range of mood and substance disorders.
Frederick believes that music and psychedelics have the potential to open our minds and connect us with our most authentic selves. Watch his TEDMED 2020 Talk "The neuroscience of psychedelic drugs, music and nostalgia," now on TEDMED.com.