Light Shining within the "Dark" Classics: A Perspective on Entheogenic Compounds.

Several naturally occurring molecules exhibit unique potential in treating certain elements of psychiatric illnesses and are being actively pursued in therapeutic development. Among these are molecules termed entheogens, a preferred name for plant-derived compounds that alter human consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes, which are especially important to various Indigenous groups, and their use within these cultures precedes that of the contemporary medicalized use. Here, we acknowledge that some entheogens were included in the DARK Classics issues of ACS Chemical Neuroscience and that the label of "DARK" may perpetuate harmful and misguided labels and stigmas. We acknowledge that these compounds should really be framed in the light and beauty of their histories and uses culturally. Thus, in this Viewpoint, we consider the language used surrounding entheogens specifically and psychedelics more broadly and attempt to reframe the way we describe psychoactive, especially entheogenic, compounds in ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

Bridging the Divide between Reductionism and the Neurodiversity Movement.

While Autism Spectrum Disorder as a label invites the idea of the heterogeneity of autism, within research we often adopt reductionist frameworks which are antithetical to heterogeneous presentations of autism. The neurodiversity movement provides insight into the vastness of the autistic experience and therefore might inform how we should restructure our research questions. Inviting sociocultural concepts of neurodiversity into the lab might better structure research to benefit the autistic community.