Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41051875›Full record

ReviewSchizophrenia bulletin2025

Visual Hallucinations in Serotonergic Psychedelics and Lewy Body Diseases.

Nathan H Heller, Frederick S Barrett, Tobias Buchborn, Daniel Collerton, David Dupuis, Adam L Halberstadt, Renaud Jardri, Tehseen Noorani, Katrin H Preller, John-Paul Taylor and 3 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Schizophrenia bulletin, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Nathan H HellerCenter for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.ORCID 0009-0009-1715-3699
Frederick S BarrettCenter for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
Tobias BuchbornInstitute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
Daniel CollertonSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, United Kingdom.
David DupuisInstitut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Paris, 75013, France.
Adam L HalberstadtDepartment of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, United States.
Renaud JardriUniversity of Lille, INSERM U-1172, Lille Neurosciences & Cognition Centre (LilNCog), CURE Platform, Fontan Hospital, CHU Lille, 59000, France.ORCID 0000-0003-4596-1502
Tehseen NooraniSchool of Pharmacy, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0002-4185-0218
Katrin H PrellerDepartment of Adult Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Clinic  Zurich, Zurich, 8032, Switzerland.
John-Paul TaylorNewcastle University, Translational and Clinical Research Institute Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE4 5PL, United Kingdom.
Flavie WatersSchool of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia.
Brian S WinstonCenter for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
Pantelis LeptourgosUniversity of Lille, INSERM U-1172, Lille Neurosciences & Cognition Centre (LilNCog), CURE Platform, Fontan Hospital, CHU Lille, 59000, France.

Funding

Research Training in Age-Related Cognitive DisordersT32AG027668 · NIA · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI MARILYN S. ALBERT · 2007 to 2026
$6.3M
Craig NerenbergERA-NET Psi-Alc FKZ: 01EW1908German Federal Ministry of Education and ResearchJohns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness ResearchNIA NIH HHS T32 AG027668Scholar-in-Residence at Tactogen Public Benefit CorporationSteven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and hypothesisVisual hallucinations (VH) are a core symptom of both Lewy body diseases (LBDs; eg, Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies) and serotonergic psychedelics (SPs; eg, psilocybin and mescaline). While these conditions differ in etiology, overlapping phenomenology, and neural mechanisms suggest shared pathways. This review explores similarities and differences in VH between LBDs and SPs, focusing on phenomenology, cortical function, and serotonergic modulation. STUDY

designThis narrative review synthesizes findings from neurology, cognitive neuroscience, and systems neuroscience to compare VH in LBDs and SPs. The literature includes studies with both human subjects and animal models that examine cortical activity patterns, neuromodulatory mechanisms, and VH phenomenology. STUDY

resultsBoth LBDs and SPs exhibit distinct visual aberrations, ranging from minor metamorphopsias to complex hallucinations. Some features in LBDs resemble those induced by SPs (eg, illusory motion and entity encounters), suggesting shared neural mechanisms. Neuroimaging studies indicate a common pattern of hyperactive associative cortex and hypoactive sensory cortex. At the neuromodulator level, SP-induced VH involves serotonin 2A and 1A receptor (5-HT2AR and 5-HT1AR) modulation, while in LBDs, 5-HT2A receptor upregulation correlates with increased VH, and its inhibition (eg, with pimavanserin) reduces VH. Two shared cortical signatures are highlighted: reduced visual evoked responses and shifts toward visual excitation.

conclusionsExamining cortical and neuromodulatory similarities between LBD- and SP-induced VH may elucidate the link between sensory degradation, excitation, and hallucinogenesis. Future research should employ real-time neuroimaging of discrete hallucinatory episodes to identify shared mechanisms and develop targeted interventions for LBD hallucinations.

Indexed as

Cerebral CortexHallucinationsHallucinogensLewy Body DiseaseParkinson DiseaseAnimalsHumansHallucinogensexcitatory/inhibitory balancehallucinogenesisphenomenologysensory deprivationSerotonin receptorsvisual hierarchy

Identifiers

PMID41051875
PMCPMC12498954

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.