Devin Effinger, Ph.D
@deffinger.bsky.social
Neuropharmacology PhD | postdoc researching #psychedelics at CU Anschutz | Lived experience w/ TBI & SUD recovery | Board member, Winter Conference on Brain Research | https://linktr.ee/Devin_Effinger
NIDA IRP > UNC Chapel Hill > CU Anschutz
NIDA IRP > UNC Chapel Hill > CU Anschutz
Pinned
Increased reactivity of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and decreased threat responding in male rats following psilocin administration - Nature Communications
The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the fast acting and long-lasting effects of these drugs are not fully understood. Here authors show that the psychedelic psilocin increases reactivity in the ...
www.nature.com
Introductory post on here sharing my latest paper in Nature Comms where I investigated the effects of the psilocin, the psychoactive metabolite of psilocybin, on behavioral responding and reactivity within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. #psychedelic www.nature.com/articles/s41...
My TEDx talk is live! It blends my story—from TBI to addiction to neuroscience—with practical tools for stronger emotional control and brain optimization. I’d be grateful if you shared it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Lg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Lg...
Getting Unstuck: Moving Towards Better Mental Health | Dr. Devin Effinger | TEDxBoulder
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:53 PM
My TEDx talk is live! It blends my story—from TBI to addiction to neuroscience—with practical tools for stronger emotional control and brain optimization. I’d be grateful if you shared it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Lg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Lg...
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
A powerful DPN Perspective from @umarchatterjee.bsky.social, @mayaschumer.bsky.social, @deffinger.bsky.social, @viscidula.bsky.social, Noel Vest, Michael Cahill, Brandon Staglin, & @ericjnestler.bsky.social.
DPN is grateful for the authors' dedication to writing this!
DPN is grateful for the authors' dedication to writing this!
November 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
A powerful DPN Perspective from @umarchatterjee.bsky.social, @mayaschumer.bsky.social, @deffinger.bsky.social, @viscidula.bsky.social, Noel Vest, Michael Cahill, Brandon Staglin, & @ericjnestler.bsky.social.
DPN is grateful for the authors' dedication to writing this!
DPN is grateful for the authors' dedication to writing this!
If anyone is looking for a roommate (or knows of someone) and has a room at the Atlantis for @acnporg.bsky.social please let me know!
October 2, 2025 at 7:29 PM
If anyone is looking for a roommate (or knows of someone) and has a room at the Atlantis for @acnporg.bsky.social please let me know!
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
Why we need basic science to better understand the neurobiology of psychedelics
Despite the many psychedelics clinical trials underway, there is still much we don’t know about how these drugs work. Preclinical studies represent our best viable avenue to answer these lingering…
www.thetransmitter.org
October 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
#neuroskyence
www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
We still don’t know if microdosing psychedelics is effective or a placebo, but is it safe? Could microdosing activate cardiac 5HT2B receptors and cause valvulopathy? New work online at pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1... from @deffinger.bsky.social suggests that - at least in mice - the answer is no. 1/
pubs.acs.org
August 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
We still don’t know if microdosing psychedelics is effective or a placebo, but is it safe? Could microdosing activate cardiac 5HT2B receptors and cause valvulopathy? New work online at pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1... from @deffinger.bsky.social suggests that - at least in mice - the answer is no. 1/
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!
1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026
1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026
August 12, 2025 at 7:58 PM
THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!
1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026
1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
@acnporg.bsky.social brought @umarchatterjee.bsky.social
@deffinger.bsky.social & me together last year: After finding each other on X-as we are all public/open about our lived experience -we met+discussed the ideas for this Study Group! Looking forward to doing this work together@ #ACNP2026💥🧠❤️
@deffinger.bsky.social & me together last year: After finding each other on X-as we are all public/open about our lived experience -we met+discussed the ideas for this Study Group! Looking forward to doing this work together@ #ACNP2026💥🧠❤️
THRILLED to share @acnporg.bsky.social news x2!
1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026
1) Our study group “Centering Lived Experience in Psychiatric Neuroscience Research” @ericjnestler.bsky.social @mayaschumer.bsky.social @deffinger.bsky.social @viscidula.bsky.social @noelvest.bsky.social @cahill-lab.bsky.social=ACCEPTED! 🤩 #ACNP2026
August 13, 2025 at 12:17 PM
@acnporg.bsky.social brought @umarchatterjee.bsky.social
@deffinger.bsky.social & me together last year: After finding each other on X-as we are all public/open about our lived experience -we met+discussed the ideas for this Study Group! Looking forward to doing this work together@ #ACNP2026💥🧠❤️
@deffinger.bsky.social & me together last year: After finding each other on X-as we are all public/open about our lived experience -we met+discussed the ideas for this Study Group! Looking forward to doing this work together@ #ACNP2026💥🧠❤️
It’s wild how much change is possible in this life. From relearning to talk post-TBI, to full blown heroin addiction, to a life beyond anything I could have imagined. Im very fortunate to not only be alive, but to have been selected to speak at 2025 TEDxBoulder!
July 31, 2025 at 9:26 PM
It’s wild how much change is possible in this life. From relearning to talk post-TBI, to full blown heroin addiction, to a life beyond anything I could have imagined. Im very fortunate to not only be alive, but to have been selected to speak at 2025 TEDxBoulder!
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
Everyone approves of the dinner to end the #GRCPsychedelics 🦞
@deffinger.bsky.social @jasteralaina.bsky.social @sequencemyneuro.bsky.social @veronicachelu.bsky.social and Erin Neyhart
@deffinger.bsky.social @jasteralaina.bsky.social @sequencemyneuro.bsky.social @veronicachelu.bsky.social and Erin Neyhart
July 17, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Everyone approves of the dinner to end the #GRCPsychedelics 🦞
@deffinger.bsky.social @jasteralaina.bsky.social @sequencemyneuro.bsky.social @veronicachelu.bsky.social and Erin Neyhart
@deffinger.bsky.social @jasteralaina.bsky.social @sequencemyneuro.bsky.social @veronicachelu.bsky.social and Erin Neyhart
The inaugural #GRCPsychedelics was a success! I am honored to have been one of a few chosen to receive a travel award and be able to share the stage with the leaders in the field. 🙏 to the organizers! @alexkwan.bsky.social @vyazovskiy.bsky.social @melissaherman.bsky.social @viditavaidya.bsky.social
July 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The inaugural #GRCPsychedelics was a success! I am honored to have been one of a few chosen to receive a travel award and be able to share the stage with the leaders in the field. 🙏 to the organizers! @alexkwan.bsky.social @vyazovskiy.bsky.social @melissaherman.bsky.social @viditavaidya.bsky.social
It’s a common misconception that, for the person with a SUD, the substances are the problem. In my experience, the real problem was much deeper. Until I addressed the underlying causes/conditions, longterm sobriety was unattainable. Link in bio. #sober #sobriety #sobersky #recovery
May 4, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Was on a podcast recently where I dive into the neuroscience of addiction, psychedelics, and healing—from both the science and my lived experience. Grateful for the chance to share my journey and the science behind what’s actually going on in the brain. Check it out:
youtu.be/uNXrbEuturY
youtu.be/uNXrbEuturY
Neuroscience, Addiction, 12 Steps with Dr. Devin Effinger & Sarah Pritchard - PART 1
YouTube video by Impacting Recovery - Uncensored
youtu.be
April 25, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Was on a podcast recently where I dive into the neuroscience of addiction, psychedelics, and healing—from both the science and my lived experience. Grateful for the chance to share my journey and the science behind what’s actually going on in the brain. Check it out:
youtu.be/uNXrbEuturY
youtu.be/uNXrbEuturY
People have warned about #psychedelics and 5-HT2B receptor activation for years — citing potential cardiotoxicity.
But no one had tested it. Until now. We used echocardiography to assess cardiac risk after chronic LSD microdosing in mice.
@sthom003.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
But no one had tested it. Until now. We used echocardiography to assess cardiac risk after chronic LSD microdosing in mice.
@sthom003.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Assessing the potential cardiovascular risk of microdosing the psychedelic LSD in mice
Microdosing, the prolonged ingestion of psychedelics at sub-hallucinogenic doses, has gained popularity for its perceived cognitive and emotional benefits. Psychedelics have high affinity for 5-HT2B r...
www.biorxiv.org
April 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
People have warned about #psychedelics and 5-HT2B receptor activation for years — citing potential cardiotoxicity.
But no one had tested it. Until now. We used echocardiography to assess cardiac risk after chronic LSD microdosing in mice.
@sthom003.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
But no one had tested it. Until now. We used echocardiography to assess cardiac risk after chronic LSD microdosing in mice.
@sthom003.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Winter brain 2025 was a blast! Our panel on microdosing #psychedelics was the most attended session of the conference. We covered 4 distinct areas: anecdotal/lived experience, preclinical neuroscience, clinical, and cardiovascular risk. Most people stayed after for a great discussion. #WCBR2025
February 4, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Winter brain 2025 was a blast! Our panel on microdosing #psychedelics was the most attended session of the conference. We covered 4 distinct areas: anecdotal/lived experience, preclinical neuroscience, clinical, and cardiovascular risk. Most people stayed after for a great discussion. #WCBR2025
Are you @winter_brain ?? Come check out our panel this afternoon on microdosing #psychedelics. Including lived experience, preclinical effects, clinical effects, and my work utilizing rodent echocardiogram to assess potential cardiovascular risks. #WCBR2025 🍄 @sthom003.bsky.social
January 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Are you @winter_brain ?? Come check out our panel this afternoon on microdosing #psychedelics. Including lived experience, preclinical effects, clinical effects, and my work utilizing rodent echocardiogram to assess potential cardiovascular risks. #WCBR2025 🍄 @sthom003.bsky.social
Just getting into Tahoe. Who’s at Winter Brain??
January 25, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Just getting into Tahoe. Who’s at Winter Brain??
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
An amazing honor to give NIH’s WALS lecture today as the last speaker under the leadership of NIH Director Dr Monica Bertagnolli
January 16, 2025 at 3:24 AM
An amazing honor to give NIH’s WALS lecture today as the last speaker under the leadership of NIH Director Dr Monica Bertagnolli
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
Great PDA seminars today by @deffinger.bsky.social and Jill King 🐭💊🧠
January 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Great PDA seminars today by @deffinger.bsky.social and Jill King 🐭💊🧠
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, led by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) - a gastroenterologist with an MD from LSU, just released a report entitled NIH IN THE 21st CENTURY: ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND AMERICAN BIOMEDICAL LEADERSHIP. Since he is the ranking Republican,
1/n
1/n
December 18, 2024 at 9:37 PM
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, led by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) - a gastroenterologist with an MD from LSU, just released a report entitled NIH IN THE 21st CENTURY: ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND AMERICAN BIOMEDICAL LEADERSHIP. Since he is the ranking Republican,
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1/n
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
#ACNP2024 highlight... getting to see @deffinger.bsky.social and share his exciting data 🧠🧠🧠
December 12, 2024 at 6:51 AM
#ACNP2024 highlight... getting to see @deffinger.bsky.social and share his exciting data 🧠🧠🧠
On tonight: Given that classical #psychedelics are 5-HT2B agonists, there is concern of a potential cardiovascular risk with prolonged use. To resemble human context, we chronically administered 2 low doses of LSD and performed echocardiograms at baseline, 4-, and 8-weeks. #ACNP2024
December 11, 2024 at 3:07 PM
On tonight: Given that classical #psychedelics are 5-HT2B agonists, there is concern of a potential cardiovascular risk with prolonged use. To resemble human context, we chronically administered 2 low doses of LSD and performed echocardiograms at baseline, 4-, and 8-weeks. #ACNP2024
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
More specifically, on Monday afternoon you do not want to miss #ACNP2024 ’s only panel dedicated to an oxymoron: non-psychedelic psychedelics! It will be a trip! Or not….
Onboard and headed to #ACNP2024 🧠 in Phoenix ☀️ with @sthom003.bsky.social @acnporg.bsky.social Program looks exciting with brand new session this year on #PromisingTargets in neuropharm 💊. See you there!
December 7, 2024 at 8:44 PM
More specifically, on Monday afternoon you do not want to miss #ACNP2024 ’s only panel dedicated to an oxymoron: non-psychedelic psychedelics! It will be a trip! Or not….
Hello @acnporg.bsky.social! I am a postdoc interested in the intersection of neurobiological effects of trauma and #psychedelic mechanism of action. 1st time here.
I’ll be presenting data investigating the cardiovascular effects of chronic, low-dose LSD in mice Wed night!
Let’s connect!
I’ll be presenting data investigating the cardiovascular effects of chronic, low-dose LSD in mice Wed night!
Let’s connect!
We are officially on the ground in Phoenix so it's time for the #ACNP2024 role call 📣
Introduce yourself, your science, tell us if you're a veteran or first-timer, promote your poster/talk/favorite social - whatever you want, this is your space to say it ⬇️
Introduce yourself, your science, tell us if you're a veteran or first-timer, promote your poster/talk/favorite social - whatever you want, this is your space to say it ⬇️
a poster of a witch and a girl with the words say something
ALT: a poster of a witch and a girl with the words say something
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Hello @acnporg.bsky.social! I am a postdoc interested in the intersection of neurobiological effects of trauma and #psychedelic mechanism of action. 1st time here.
I’ll be presenting data investigating the cardiovascular effects of chronic, low-dose LSD in mice Wed night!
Let’s connect!
I’ll be presenting data investigating the cardiovascular effects of chronic, low-dose LSD in mice Wed night!
Let’s connect!
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
Our most recent episode featured @deffinger.bsky.social discussing threat processing, the amygdala + psychedelics
Check it out here:
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
Check it out here:
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
Podcast | Your Brain on Science
Psychedelic science podcast delving into past, present, and future findings in a fun and accessible way
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Our most recent episode featured @deffinger.bsky.social discussing threat processing, the amygdala + psychedelics
Check it out here:
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
Check it out here:
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
Reposted by Devin Effinger, Ph.D
Our final episode in the #psychedelic circuitry series!! And maybe the year??
This episode dives into threat, amygdala, PVN + how psychedelics alter these responses in male and females animal models!
Featuring @deffinger.bsky.social !
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
This episode dives into threat, amygdala, PVN + how psychedelics alter these responses in male and females animal models!
Featuring @deffinger.bsky.social !
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
Podcast | Your Brain on Science
Psychedelic science podcast delving into past, present, and future findings in a fun and accessible way
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com
December 3, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Our final episode in the #psychedelic circuitry series!! And maybe the year??
This episode dives into threat, amygdala, PVN + how psychedelics alter these responses in male and females animal models!
Featuring @deffinger.bsky.social !
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...
This episode dives into threat, amygdala, PVN + how psychedelics alter these responses in male and females animal models!
Featuring @deffinger.bsky.social !
www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/epis...