Rewiring the Brain: How Ibogaine Therapy is Changing Our Understanding of Brain Activity
This article answers the question: How does ibogaine therapy affect the brain's electrical activity, and what does this mean for treating brain injuries and mental health conditions?
Recent research has revealed that ibogaine therapy can cause a 'slowing' of cortical oscillations, the rhythmic electrical activity in the brain. This article explores a groundbreaking study that found this slowing effect in veterans with traumatic brain injury, and discusses how this change in brain activity is linked to improvements in conditions like PTSD and anxiety. We will also delve into other key studies that shed light on the complex ways ibogaine interacts with the brain's electrical and chemical systems.
The human brain is a symphony of electrical activity, a complex orchestra of neurons firing in rhythmic patterns known as cortical oscillations. These brain waves are the foundation of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and when they are disrupted, it can lead to a wide range of neurological and psychiatric problems. But what if there was a way to ‘reset’ these brain waves, to restore the brain’s natural harmony? Emerging research into ibogaine therapy suggests that this powerful psychedelic compound may be able to do just that.
This article will explore the fascinating science behind how ibogaine therapy can alter the brain’s electrical activity, with a particular focus on a groundbreaking study that found a ‘slowing’ of cortical oscillations in veterans with traumatic brain injury. We will also look at other recent research that is shedding light on the complex ways in which ibogaine interacts with the brain’s electrical and chemical systems. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how ibogaine therapy is changing our understanding of brain activity and what it could mean for the future of treating brain injuries and mental health conditions.
A Breakthrough in Brain Injury Treatment
A groundbreaking 2025 study published in Nature Mental Health has provided the first direct evidence of how ibogaine therapy affects human brain activity, and the results are nothing short of remarkable (Lissemore et al., 2025). The study, which was conducted on a group of 30 combat veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), found that a single treatment with magnesium-ibogaine resulted in a significant ‘slowing’ of cortical oscillations. This means that the brain’s electrical activity became less chaotic and more organized, a change that was associated with significant improvements in psychiatric and cognitive symptoms.
The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the brain’s electrical activity before and after the ibogaine treatment. They found that after the treatment, there was an increase in the power of slower brain waves (theta and alpha) and a decrease in the power of faster brain waves (beta and gamma). This shift towards slower brain waves was correlated with improvements in executive function, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. The study also found that the peak alpha frequency and neural complexity were lower after treatment, and that these changes persisted for at least a month.
This study is a major breakthrough in our understanding of how ibogaine works. It provides a clear neurophysiological marker for the therapeutic effects of the compound, and it opens the door to further research into its potential for treating a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions. The next section will explore how these findings are being interpreted in the broader scientific community.
Slowing the Brain to Heal the Mind
The findings of the Nature Mental Health study have generated a great deal of excitement in the scientific community, and for good reason. A 2025 article in New Scientist highlights the significance of the study, explaining how the ‘slowing’ of brainwaves observed after ibogaine therapy could be a key mechanism in the treatment of PTSD and other mental health conditions (Fleming, 2025). The article explains that in conditions like PTSD, the brain can get stuck in a state of hyperarousal, with an excess of fast brainwave activity. By slowing down these brainwaves, ibogaine may be helping to restore a state of calm and balance to the brain.
The New Scientist article also points out that the slowing of brainwaves is not the only way that ibogaine may be working its therapeutic magic. The compound is also known to interact with a wide range of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, including the serotonin, dopamine, and opioid systems. This complex pharmacology is likely what makes ibogaine so effective for treating a wide range of conditions, from addiction to depression to TBI. The article concludes by saying that while more research is needed, the findings of the Nature Mental Health study are a major step forward in our understanding of this powerful and mysterious compound.
This article provides a clear and accessible explanation of the significance of the Nature Mental Health study. It helps to put the findings into a broader context and to explain why they are so important for the future of mental health treatment. The next section will delve deeper into the complex pharmacology of ibogaine, exploring how it interacts with the brain’s electrical and chemical systems.
A Deeper Dive into Brainwave Changes
To get a more detailed picture of how ibogaine affects brainwave patterns, we can turn to a 2021 study in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (Ma, et al., 2021). This study, which was conducted in rats, used intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to get a high-resolution look at the changes in brainwave activity that occur after ibogaine administration. The researchers found that ibogaine significantly altered the oscillatory power content of the iEEG, with a particularly strong effect on gamma band oscillations.
Gamma band oscillations are the fastest type of brainwave, and they are associated with high-level cognitive processes like perception, attention, and memory. The fact that ibogaine has such a strong effect on these brainwaves is a major clue as to how it produces its profound psychological effects. The study also found that ibogaine affected the long-range synchronization of brain activity, which is a measure of how well different brain regions are communicating with each other. This suggests that ibogaine may be working by disrupting the normal patterns of brain activity and allowing for new, more flexible patterns to emerge.
This study provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex ways in which ibogaine interacts with the brain’s electrical systems. It shows that the compound is not just slowing down brainwaves, but is actually changing the way that different brain regions communicate with each other. This could be a key mechanism behind its ability to promote psychological healing and growth. The next section will explore how ibogaine’s effects on brainwaves may be related to its interaction with the serotonin system.
The Serotonin Connection
To understand the full picture of how ibogaine affects the brain, we need to consider not just its effects on electrical activity, but also its interaction with the brain’s chemical systems. A 2022 study in Neurotoxicology provides a key piece of the puzzle, showing that the abnormal EEG activity induced by ibogaine is at least partially dependent on its interaction with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor (Perez-Paladines, et al., 2022). This is a significant finding, as the serotonin system is known to play a key role in regulating mood, anxiety, and cognition.
The study, which was conducted in mice, found that a compound that blocks the 5-HT1A receptor was able to prevent the abnormal EEG activity that is normally seen after ibogaine administration. This suggests that the 5-HT1A receptor is a key target for ibogaine, and that the compound’s effects on brainwaves are at least partially mediated by its interaction with this receptor. This is an important clue as to how ibogaine produces its therapeutic effects, as the 5-HT1A receptor is known to be involved in the regulation of anxiety and depression.
This study provides a crucial link between the electrical and chemical effects of ibogaine. It shows that the compound’s effects on brainwaves are not just a random phenomenon, but are actually a direct result of its interaction with a specific neurotransmitter receptor. This is a major step forward in our understanding of this complex and fascinating compound. The final section of this article will explore the broader implications of these findings for the treatment of TBI and other mental health conditions.
From the Lab to the Clinic: Real-World Results
While the neurophysiological and neurochemical studies provide a fascinating glimpse into the mechanisms of ibogaine, the ultimate test of any new therapy is its effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. A 2024 article from Stanford Medicine News reports on the remarkable success of ibogaine therapy in treating veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Stauth, 2024). The article highlights the work of a team of researchers at Stanford who have been conducting clinical trials of ibogaine for the treatment of TBI and co-occurring mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
The article reports that on average, treatment with ibogaine led to significant improvements in functioning, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. These are life-changing results for a population that is often struggling to find effective treatments for their complex and debilitating conditions. The article also notes that the improvements were seen immediately after the treatment, which is a major advantage over traditional therapies that can take weeks or even months to take effect. The success of these clinical trials provides a powerful real-world validation of the neurophysiological and neurochemical findings discussed in the previous sections.
This article provides a powerful and hopeful message about the potential of ibogaine therapy. It shows that the compound is not just a fascinating research tool, but a real-world therapy that is already changing the lives of veterans with TBI. The success of these clinical trials is a major step forward in the quest to bring this powerful and promising therapy into the mainstream.
Conclusion: A New Paradigm for Brain Health
The research into ibogaine therapy is revealing a new paradigm for understanding and treating brain injuries and mental health conditions. By demonstrating that ibogaine can ‘slow’ the brain’s cortical oscillations and promote a more organized state of brain activity, scientists are uncovering a fundamental mechanism for healing and recovery. The powerful combination of neurophysiological, neurochemical, and clinical evidence points to a future in which ibogaine therapy could play a key role in restoring brain health and promoting psychological well-being. As research into this remarkable compound continues, we may be on the verge of a new era of brain health, one in which we have the tools to not just treat the symptoms of brain injury and mental illness, but to actually heal the brain itself.
References
Fleming, N. (2025, August 11). Psychedelic drug ibogaine may treat PTSD by slowing brainwaves. New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2491953-psychedelic-drug-ibogaine-may-treat-ptsd-by-slowing-brainwaves/
Lissemore, J. I., Chaiken, A., Cherian, K. N., Buchanan, D., Espil, F., Keynan, J. N., Sridhar, M., Rolle, C. E., Saggar, M., Keller, C. J., & Williams, N. R. (2025). Magnesium–ibogaine therapy effects on cortical oscillations and neural complexity in veterans with traumatic brain injury. Nature Mental Health, 3(1), 918–931. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00463-x
Ma, J., Li, C., & Chen, Z. (2021). EEG Gamma Band Alterations and REM-like Traits Underpin the Acute Effect of the Atypical Psychedelic Ibogaine in the Rat. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 4(1), 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00164
Perez-Paladines, C., et al. (2022). Tabernaemontana arborea and ibogaine induce paroxysmal EEG activity in freely moving mice: Involvement of serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Neurotoxicology, 89, 134-145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34999156/
Stauth, D. (2024, January 5). Psychoactive drug ibogaine effectively treats traumatic brain injury in veterans. Stanford Medicine News. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/01/ibogaine-ptsd.html
Disclaimer: Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy has not been approved by any regulatory agencies in the United States, and the safety and efficacy are still not formally established at the time of this writing.