INSIGHT Forum (EN): Insights at the Intersection of psychedelics, meditation, and neuroscience

We are pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. med. Franz Vollenweider, one of the world’s most influential psychedelic researchers, to the INSIGHT Forum. In this event, he will explore what happens in the brain during psychedelic experiences and how these effects relate to practices like mindfulness meditation.

Both psychedelics and meditation can lead to deep changes in how we experience ourselves and the world around us. They can help us gain perspective, reduce emotional distress, and connect more fully with the present moment. While meditation teaches us to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment, psychedelics can sometimes bring about rapid emotional breakthroughs and feelings of clarity or self-transcendence.

In his talk, Prof. Vollenweider will explain how these two approaches might work together. Could mindfulness help people better navigate the psychedelic experience? Could psychedelics support the development of mindfulness skills? And what can neuroscience tell us about the similarities in how they affect the brain?

Join us for an evening of science and reflection as we discuss how ancient contemplative practices and modern psychedelic research are beginning to inform one another — and what this might mean for the future of mental health, well-being, and human development.