Trauma Under Psychedelics - prof. Roy Salomon

Recent research has focused on how psychedelics and empathogens may assist in the treatment of PTSD and depression following trauma. However, there is almost no knowledge regarding how psychoactive substances may impact the processing of Traumatic Events (TE) in real time. The large-scale terror attack by Hamas on October 7th 2023 on the 4000 attendees of the Supernova music festival has provided a tragic opportunity to study these two phenomena in conjunction. The attack took place shortly after sunrise, when many attendees were under the influence of mind-altering substances, mostly MDMA, LSD, ketamine and, as well as cannabis. This is an unprecedented mass trauma event that many of its victims experienced while in altered states of consciousness. We are conducting a large scale, longitudinal study with these survivors regarding the processing of trauma under the influence of psychedelics in the peritraumatic and post traumatic periods. In this talk I will show results from this unique cohort including clinical (n = 1400), physiological (n = 300), cognitive (n = 900) and neural (fMRI) measures (n = 140) and how they relate to trauma and psychedelic use. The data and experiences of the courageous survivors of the festival provide novel insights into how trauma processing is impacted by psychoactive substances revealing unique interactions between cognitive, pharmacological and clinical factors.

The Nova Project

The tragic Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, at the Supernova music festival in Israel created a unique opportunity to study the interaction between trauma exposure and altered states of consciousness induced by psychoactive substances such as MDMA, LSD, ketamine, and psilocybin. Many survivors of the attack were under the influence of these substances, allowing for the first-ever longitudinal study of trauma processing in such a context. Our extensive research includes an unprecedented sample size of over 1,200 survivors, providing exceptional statistical power and reliability. Preliminary findings indicate a remarkable protective effect of MDMA during traumatic exposure, with MDMA users exhibiting significantly better clinical outcomes compared to those who consumed other substances or none at all. These insights are not only scientifically groundbreaking but have also generated considerable public and media interest, receiving extensive international coverage in prominent outlets such as The New York Times ,  Frankfurter Allgemeine and BBC.

Prof. Roy Salomon

Professor Roy Salomon is a Full Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Haifa and a Stiftung Charité visiting professor at the Charité psychiatric department in Berlin. His research primarily explores perceptual consciousness and bodily-self-consciousness, utilizing advanced techniques such as virtual reality, computational models, and neuroimaging. He earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute of Science, and completed postdoctoral training at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) focusing on the neuroscience of consciousness and the self.

In 2016, he founded the Lab of Self & Consciousness, which investigates the construct of the “Self” and its relation to consciousness in both healthy and clinical populations. His research is known for its innovative approach to empirically studying fundamental questions such as "What is the self?" and "How do we know what is real?" Prof. Salomon has made significant contributions to understanding non-typical states of consciousness, including those experienced in psychosis and under psychedelics.

Prof. Salomon is a co-founder and board member of SafeHeart, a non-profit NGO dedicated to assisting trauma survivors, particularly those affected by the large-scale terror attack during the Supernova music festival in October 2023. His work in this area is pioneering in understanding trauma processing under altered states of consciousness, offering new insights and potential therapeutic approaches for trauma and related mental health conditions. Recognized for his contributions, Prof. Salomon has been invited to address the United Nations on mental health innovations in trauma care.