Do Psychedelics Improve Memory?
Can psychedelics truly boost your brainpower, or is it all hype? Explore the surprising science behind ketamine, LSD, and more...
*IV Ketamine, NR, and NAD+ have been used clinically off-label for decades. They are not FDA approved for the treatment of any psychiatric or pain condition. All medical treatments carry risks and benefits that you must discuss with a doctor at Clarus Health to learn if these therapies are right for you.
San Francisco has a deep-rooted fascination with psychedelics, famously embraced by icons such as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. The question is: can these substances actually boost our intelligence, or is it all hype?
Ketamine's Effects on Memory and Cognition
Unlike most psychedelics, ketamine is legal with a doctor’s prescription and has been used for over 50 years—initially as an anesthetic, and now for conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. When mental health problems hijack our cognitive resources, we experience “brain fog,” reduced executive function, and even lower test scores on IQ-related measures. Treating these conditions can restore cognitive abilities and mental clarity.
Interestingly, there’s also evidence that ketamine’s benefits can extend beyond improving depression. Some research suggests ketamine may enhance memory and processing speed through increased neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections). However, we do not prescribe ketamine exclusively as a cognitive enhancer. The primary goal is to treat debilitating conditions like depression and PTSD—and those gains in clarity and cognition are a welcome side effect.
LSD, Psilocybin, and Other Psychedelics: do They Affect Memory?
Other psychedelics—including LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA, Ayahuasca, and mescaline—remain illegal in most of the United States. While certain research trials show they can influence creativity, mood, and emotional well-being, their impact on measurable intelligence is less clear. In clinical studies where mood and cognitive improvements do appear, it’s often linked to relieving underlying conditions like depression, rather than directly “raising IQ.” More rigorous research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
The Bottom Line
For those dealing with serious mental health issues, addressing those conditions can indirectly improve aspects of cognitive function—particularly if depression or PTSD is impairing focus and decision-making. In most parts of the U.S., the path to potential psychedelic-based therapy remains complicated by legal constraints. The main exception is ketamine, which can be safely prescribed in a medical setting and has shown promise in restoring not just mood but also cognitive clarity in many of my patients. When used in the setting of depression, anxiety, PTSD, or chronic pain, some patients may experience cognitive benefits, but this should not be the primary intended indication for ketamine use. To learn if IV Ketamine is appropriate for you, contact Clarus Health today.
Anthony Kaveh MD
Dr. Kaveh is a Stanford and Harvard-trained anesthesiologist and integrative medicine specialist. He has over 1,000,000 followers on social media and has guided hundreds of patients throughout transformative healing experiences. He is an authority on Ketamine, NAD, SGB, and genomics-guided therapies. He is a continuing medical education lecturer in the Bay Area.
