This glossary provides clear, evidence-based definitions of key terms used throughout Mind & Mycelium. The entries focus on neuroscience, mycology, psychedelics, sleep science, and related research fields, using language that is precise, accessible, and grounded in current scientific understanding.
The purpose of this glossary is educational clarity. Many terms in neuroscience and psychedelic research are frequently oversimplified, misused, or taken out of context in popular media. Each definition here is intended to reflect how these concepts are used in academic research, not how they are portrayed in self-help, wellness marketing, or anecdotal discussions.
Where appropriate, glossary entries explain how a term is studied, what it is commonly associated with in research, and what it does not mean. This approach helps readers distinguish between established scientific concepts, ongoing research questions, and unsupported claims.
This glossary does not provide medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, nor does it offer guidance on the use of any substance or intervention. It is designed as a reference tool to support informed reading of the articles on this site and to encourage responsible engagement with scientific information.
Default Mode Network
Default Mode Network (DMN)
An evidence-based overview of the Default Mode Network, explaining what it is, which brain regions are involved, how it is studied in neuroscience research, and how it is commonly misunderstood in popular media.
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Norpsilocin
Norpsilocin
An evidence-based overview of norpsilocin, a psilocin metabolite, explaining its chemical structure, metabolic formation, receptor activity, and why limited blood–brain barrier permeability affects its central nervous system activity.
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Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
An evidence-based overview of the parasympathetic nervous system, explaining its craniosacral anatomy, role in autonomic regulation, vagal tone, and physiological recovery processes.
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Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin Syndrome
A clinical overview of serotonin syndrome (serotonin toxicity), explaining its pharmacological mechanisms, core diagnostic features, and risks associated with excessive serotonergic activity.
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Serotonin and Serotonin Receptors
Serotonin and Serotonin Receptors
An evidence-based overview of serotonin biology, explaining how serotonin is synthesized, how serotonin receptors function, how it is metabolized, and its role in brain circuits and systemic physiology.
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Brain Regions
Brain Regions
A structured overview explaining how neuroscientists define and classify brain regions, covering cortical lobes, subcortical structures, large-scale brain networks, and the limits of region-based models.
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