Psychedelics Do Not Always Enhance Cognitive Flexibility: The Potential Role of Time-Varying Effects on Reward Learning Processes

Psychedelics may enhance learning from reward receipt while difficulties in overcoming these rewards could lead to rigid thinking.

• Acute effects of psychedelics may improve learning from rewards, potentially resulting in difficulty letting go of previously learned behaviors.
• Post-acute effects may shift focus to learning from the absence of rewards, which could help counteract rigid thinking patterns.
• Mixed findings regarding cognitive flexibility may stem from varying effects of psychedelics on reward learning over time.
• The role of serotonin receptors in these learning processes suggests different mechanisms for reward receipt and reward omission.
• Insights gained during psychedelic experiences might be strongly retained due to enhanced learning from rewards.

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