Fascinating Fungi | The Mind on Mushrooms - Joost Breeksema

People who struggle with different mental disorders such as severe depression, appear to benefit from therapeutic use of psilocybin: the ‘magic’ in mushrooms. Research into the therapeutic uses of psychedelics - think: LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and magic mushrooms - was dormant for decades but has been revived and absorbed by pharmaceutical companies over the past years.

Joost Breeksema, who researches psychedelics at the UMCG, has been advocating for rigorous scientific research for two decades. But now that hype seems to outpace scientific curiosity, he urges caution and respect for these powerful substances. What are the latest clinical insights into the role of psychedelics in psychiatry? And can these substances—beyond the big promises— be used responsibly in clinical practice?

The evening will be opened by Esmé van der Boom and Sander Koning who will share a short preview of their theater performance All Real Living Is Meeting in which they explore what we can learn from fungal networks and how expectations shape reality.

Photography: Vasilis Kokkoris