Rewiring the Brain: Psychedelics, Neuroplasticity & the Windows of Change with Tommaso Barba

What if a single psychedelic experience could return your brain to the same malleable state it was in when you were a child and what could you do with that window?

About

For decades, the dominant view in neuroscience was that the adult brain is largely fixed — that the openness to change we experience in childhood eventually closes, and we become, to a significant degree, locked into our patterns. The emerging science of psychedelics is beginning to overturn that assumption.

Research now suggests that psychedelics such as psilocybin may temporarily reopen what scientists call a "critical window" of neuroplasticity , a period when the brain becomes unusually malleable, forming new connections, softening rigid thought patterns, and becoming far more receptive to change.

But the window doesn't work alone. What happens during and after it (the set, the setting, the integration) may matter as much as the molecule itself. Understanding this mechanism opens up profound questions about how we heal, how we change, and what it means to truly rewire the brain. This talk will also offer practical guidance on how to best prepare for and follow up after a psychedelic experience, with a particular focus on supporting your nervous system before, during, and after.

Join us for an online talk with Tommaso Barba, PhD researcher at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, as he unpacks the neuroscience behind this emerging model and what it means for the future of mental health treatment.

The talk will be followed by a live audience Q&A.

What we'll explore

• What neuroplasticity is and why it matters for mental health and behaviour change
• The neuroscience of "critical periods" and the evidence that psychedelics can reopen them in the adult brain
• How psychedelics promote the growth of new neural connections and why this may drive lasting therapeutic change
• Why timing matters: what the brain's heightened plasticity window means for preparation, integration, and the weeks after a psychedelic experience
• Practical guidance on how to prepare for and follow up after a psychedelic experience, including how to support your nervous system before, during, and after
• One session or two? What the latest research says about dose frequency and therapeutic outcomes
• The broader implications for depression, addiction, trauma, and the future of psychedelic-assisted therapy
• Open questions at the frontier: what we still don't know, and where the research is heading

⚠️ Please note: This is an educational event. No medical or clinical advice can be given during this session.

Can't attend the live event? No problem  - all ticket holders will get access to the recording within 48 hours of the event.

Your Speaker

Tommaso Barba is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, supervised by Dr. David Erritzoe and Prof. David Nutt. His research currently centers on the brain effects of short-acting psychedelics such as DMT and 5-MeO-DMT, conducting the first neuroimaging trials of these compounds in laboratory settings with Dr Chris Timmermann. 

Tommaso's interests include the impact of psychedelics and MDMA on couples' intimacy, advocating for their potential in improving couples' connection within therapeutic settings. 

He also focuses on the role of psychedelics in treating depression and enhancing well-being. Tommaso has co-authored over ten scientific papers, including five as the first author, in journals such as The Lancet EClinical Medicine and Nature Scientific Reports. This work has been widely recognised and covered by prominent media outlets, including Forbes USA, The Times, The Telegraph, Rolling Stone, and CNN. 

Additionally, Tommaso collaborates with universities and startups in Italy and the USA. 

Your Organiser 

Ryan is the Online Events Coordinator for The Psychedelic Society and a life-long psychedelic enthusiast. He is completing his MSc in Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine & Culture at The University of Exeter where he specialised in the extra-pharmacological factors affecting psychedelic assisted therapy. Ryan also sits at the intersection of psychedelic research, education and therapy. He works as a Research Associate at Pneuma Science, Consultant at Psilonautica and Communications & Partnerships Associate at Beautiful Space. 

Follow Ryan on LinkedIn.

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

Our facilitators have agreed to our code of conduct. Learn about our procedure for raising concerns

MEMBERS of the Psychedelic Society get a discount off almost all of our events.
Join from £5 a month and become part of this amazing community with invites to special events and more.