Natasha Mason PhD and Jan Ramaekers PhD are on the show to discuss the effects of psilocybin on creativity; the challenge of measuring creativity in a lab; the role creativity plays in mental health; and even the connections between psychedelics, creativity, and movements in art and culture.

For links to out guest's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind145 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT THIS PODCAST ► Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso ► Donations: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS ► Merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ ► More options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support/ ► Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter *** Extra BIG thanks to my patrons on Patreon for helping keep this podcast alive! Especially, Andreas D, Clea S, Joe A, Ian C, David WB, Yvette FC, Ann-Madeleine, Dima B, Eliz C, Chuck W, Nathan B, & Nick M Episode Breakdown

• A disambiguation of the term Creativity; convergent vs divergent thinking
• The difficulty of determining what qualifies as creative in creativity research
• Creativity is defined by culture, too
• Creativity and its role in mental health; creativity is an essential cognitive ability
• How creative thinking can help with depression
• Cognitive flexibility, psychedelics, and healing depression
• The neurophysiology of creativity
• Creativity and the default mode network
• Outline their study on the effects of psilocybin on creativity and its results
• How much psilocybin (dose) were they giving people and why?
• How they measured the personal sense of being creative
• Psychedelics, art, and creativity research
• The role of glutamate in the ego dissolution experience
• The window of opportunity for neuroplasticity after psychedelics
• Glutamate, psilocybin, excitotoxicity, and depression
• The psychedelic encounters with near-death are protecting the brain (maybe)
• What's next in their research on the effects of psilocybin on creativity

************** SUPPORT THIS PODCAST ► Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso ► Donations: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS ► Merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ ► More options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support/ ► Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter ► Or, you can buy a copy of one of my books!

• Decomposing The Shadow: https://www.jameswjesso.com/decomposing-the-shadow/
• The True Light Of Darkness: https://www.jameswjesso.com/true-light-darkness/