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April 21st, 2025
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University College London
neuroscience
biorxiv

Speech markers of psychedelic-induced psychological change

Kuc, J.Open in Google Scholar•McAlpine, R. G.Open in Google Scholar•Sellers, A.Open in Google Scholar•Blackburne, G.Open in Google Scholar•Lametti, D.Open in Google Scholar•Skipper, J. I.Open in Google Scholar

5-MeO-DMT, a potent, short-acting psychedelic, induces profound shifts in cognition, affect, and self-awareness. Because language explicitly expresses these domains and voice implicitly conveys them, both may serve as potential \'biomarkers\' of behavioural change. This study introduces a novel framework for analysing baseline language and vocal features, pre- to post-psychedelic changes, assessing their potential to predict subjective experiences and psychological outcomes. Daily voice journals from 29 participants were collected via \'RetreatBot\' for two weeks before and after 5-MeO-DMT (1x12mg). Transcripts were analysed using NLP (bag-of-words for vocabulary; transformer model for textual affect), and acoustic features (e.g., pitch, jitter, shimmer) were extracted to assess vocal dynamics. Following 5-MeO-DMT, speech markers revealed increased cognitive language, decreased social words, and altered voice quality (increased jitter/shimmer). Baseline speech patterns predicted psychological preparedness, ego dissolution anxiety, emotional breakthrough, and post-experience well-being. This first longitudinal analysis of speech markers following psychedelic use demonstrates a shift from external focus to introspection. Speech markers predicted and tracked psychological transformation, establishing vocal journaling as a valuable framework for monitoring psychedelic-induced changes and facilitating integration.

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