In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Manesh Girn, a neuroscientist, psychedelic researcher, and co-founder and CEO of Five Discovery, a psychedelic biotechnology company developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. Previously, Dr. Girn completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco working with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying psychedelic experiences. He has authored over two dozen peer-reviewed publications on brain networks, psychedelics, and cognition.We touch upon topics of:His personal introduction and background in Eastern spirituality (Parallels between meditation and psychedelic altered states (The scientific concepts of ego dissolution and ego inflation (How psychedelics work in the brain and neuroplasticity (The brain as an interconnected ecosystem (Why disruption and temporary chaos lead to healing and recalibration (Coherence, transient states, and capturing brain dynamics (Myths and realities of the Default Mode Network (DMN) (Other brain networks affected by psychedelics and their therapeutic roles (Psychedelics for creativity, professional breakthrough insights, and non-hallucinogenic therapeutics (Using complexity science and system-level approaches in mental health (Why individuals experience highly variable, context-dependent psychedelic effects (Precision psychiatry and personalized dosing (Placebo-controlled research on microdosing vs. high-dose applications (The difficulty of studying the neuroscience of bad trips (The value of first-person psychedelic experience for scientific researchers (How the brain is hardwired to experience deep love, gratitude, and connection (The challenges of measuring endogenous DMT and theories of post-retreat reactivations (If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.comFind more about Dr. Manesh Girn on Instagram or YouTube @thepsychedelicscientist, his personal website maneshgirn.com, or learn about his biotechnology company at fivediscovery.com.