In broader terms, psychedelic drugs are suggested to contain mind-manifesting properties that  along with their serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor stimulation produce profound alterations of  consciousness that can in some cases produce significant changes in the perception of the self and its emotions 

Psychedelics and modulation

Functional connectivity is a coactivation of anatomically distinct brain regions in temporal patterns. This is negatively correlated with the DMN  and psychometric components that have downstream therapeutic effects. In this regard, a reduction in FC with brain regions that comprise the DMN is related to ego dissolution (Oceanic SelfBoundlessness as measured with proper scales) l that can occur during the psychedelic experience; which in consequence has positive therapeutic effects.

Functional connectivity and DMN connectivity

Through fMRI one can visualize modulation of the DMN acutely by a decrease in connectivity and blood flow within nodes of this network. Furthermore, MEG and EEG studies show neuronal desynchronization of alpha power which is at times specifically located in the PCC. These are all crucial elements of DMN and are hypothesized to be positively related to less constrained, more flexible, and less self-referential and ego.

Modulation imaging techniques 

Every psychedelic drug has its own mechanism of interaction with the Default Mode Network. Nevertheless, acute disruption in resting-state connectivity and increased functional connectivity between canonical resting-state networks seems to be a consistent finding in regard to modulation. 


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Default Mode Network modulation has been a consistent approach to understanding the effects and mechanisms of different psychedelic drugs. It is a current hypothesis that the relation of DMN modulation has a relation with the therapeutic effects of these drugs. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of this relation are still unclear.  

DMN modulation by use of psychedelics 

Gattuso, J. J., Perkins, D., Ruffell, S., Lawrence, A. J., Hoyer, D., Jacobson, L. H., Timmermann, C., Castle, D., Rossell, S. L., Downey, L. A., Pagni, B. A., Galvão-Coelho, N. L., Nutt, D., &amp; Sarris, J. (2022). Default mode network modulation by psychedelics: A systematic review. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 26(3), 155–188. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyac074 

Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A
Systematic Review

Modulation of DMN

Currently, DMN modulation in terms of therapeutic effects is a theory and causality is hard to address in terms of internal validity. Furthermore, there are still discrepancies in the psychedelic mechanism of action which can obscure the origin of the therapeutic effects.

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