Psychedelics fundamentally shake up how your brain normally operates by latching onto serotonin receptors, particularly ones called 5-HT2A receptors. This kicks off a domino effect where the part of your brain that keeps you thinking the same thoughts over and over, called the default mode network, quiets down significantly. At the same time, brain regions that usually work independently start communicating in brand new ways, creating fresh pathways for thoughts and feelings to flow. This surge in brain connectivity seems to make your brain more flexible and adaptable, potentially helping you rewire patterns that aren’t serving you well anymore. Brain imaging studies show psychedelics also change how your emotional processing center and decision-making areas interact. The result is a more fluid, interconnected brain state that might explain why these substances show so much promise for conditions where people feel stuck in negative loops, like depression, addiction, and trauma.