Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to stimuli over time. On a cellular level it involves modifying the existing synapses, building new connections between neurons, and generating entirely new neurons and neural networks through neurogenesis.
Contrary to what was previously believed, brain development does not only occur in childhood — in fact, the adult brain is still capable of self-directed synaptic growth.
Functional changes in brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, facilitate shifts in thought patterns, perceptions, and behaviours which are typically experienced during a psychedelic ‘trip’.