Memory experiences under psychedelics – an exploratory prospective online study
Abstract
Rationale
Case reports and early clinical research suggest classic psychedelics can occasion intense recall and processing of autobiographical memories. Such memory experiences have seen very little study more recently, although they may hold importance for both therapeutic effects and potential iatrogenic harms.
Objectives
This prospective, exploratory study aimed to assess 1) the extent and content of memory experiences in naturalistic psychedelic use, as well as their associations with 2) elements of set and setting, 3) emotional breakthroughs and psychological insights, and 4) longer-term changes in well-being and later subjective evaluations of the experience.
Methods
English-speaking adults (N = 66, Mage = 34.91, 60.1% male) planning to take a classic psychedelic were assessed online before, 1-3 days, and 3-5 weeks after taking the psychedelic with self-report instruments.
Results
On average, participants spent around a quarter of their psychedelic experience recalling past events, although variance was high. Positive and recent memories were most commonly recalled. Four in ten participants recalled usually avoided memories, nearly half potentially traumatic experiences, and a quarter memories of events they had never recalled before. Memory experiences, especially recalling avoided memories, were associated with more emotional breakthroughs and psychological insights and higher evaluations of the experience as useful, but did not predict changes in well-being.
Conclusions
Recalling past events of one’s life may form a major, largely neglected element of many psychedelic experiences and be associated with therapeutic processes. Recalling apparent memories never remembered before under psychedelics may be more common than previously thought and needs careful study and consideration.
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BibTeX
@misc{kangaslampi2026memory,
title = {{Memory experiences under psychedelics – an exploratory prospective online study}},
author = {Samuli Kangaslampi and Kim PC Kuypers},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/zwybe_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/zwybe_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Memory experiences under psychedelics – an exploratory prospective online study
AU - Samuli Kangaslampi
AU - Kim PC Kuypers
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/zwybe_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/zwybe_v1/
AB - Rationale Case reports and early clinical research suggest classic psychedelics can occasion intense recall and processing of autobiographical memories. Such memory experiences have seen very little study more recently, although they may hold importance for both therapeutic effects and potential iatrogenic harms. Objectives This prospective, exploratory study aimed to assess 1) the extent and content of memory experiences in naturalistic psychedelic use, as well as their associations with 2) elements of set and setting, 3) emotional breakthroughs and psychological insights, and 4) longer-term changes in well-being and later subjective evaluations of the experience. Methods English-speaking adults (N = 66, Mage = 34.91, 60.1% male) planning to take a classic psychedelic were assessed online before, 1-3 days, and 3-5 weeks after taking the psychedelic with self-report instruments. Results On average, participants spent around a quarter of their psychedelic experience recalling past events, although variance was high. Positive and recent memories were most commonly recalled. Four in ten participants recalled usually avoided memories, nearly half potentially traumatic experiences, and a quarter memories of events they had never recalled before. Memory experiences, especially recalling avoided memories, were associated with more emotional breakthroughs and psychological insights and higher evaluations of the experience as useful, but did not predict changes in well-being. Conclusions Recalling past events of one’s life may form a major, largely neglected element of many psychedelic experiences and be associated with therapeutic processes. Recalling apparent memories never remembered before under psychedelics may be more common than previously thought and needs careful study and consideration.
ER -