Human brain changes after first psilocybin use
OpenAlex – October 14, 2024
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A single 25mg dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin profoundly alters the human brain, yielding lasting benefits. In a Drug Studies investigation with 28 psychedelic-naive individuals, anatomical and functional brain changes persisted for up to one month. Neuroscience revealed more integrated brain networks, correlating with improved well-being and psychological insight. This suggests psilocybin's potential in Mental Health and Psychiatry, enhancing cognitive flexibility. These effects were exclusive to the 25mg dose, underscoring psilocybin's specific impact on psychology.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psychedelics have robust effects on acute brain function and long-term behavior but whether they also cause enduring functional and anatomical brain changes is unknown. In a placebo-controlled, within-subjects, electroencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging study in 28 healthy, entirely psychedelic-naive participants, anatomical and functional brain changes were detected from one-hour to one-month after a single high-dose (25 mg) of psilocybin. Increases in cognitive flexibility, psychological insight, and well-being were seen at one-month. Diffusion imaging done before and one-month after 25mg psilocybin revealed decreased axial diffusivity bilaterally in prefrontal-subcortical tracts that correlated with decreased brain network modularity over the same time period. Decreased modularity also correlated with improved well-being. Increased cortical signal entropy at 1– and 2-hours post-dosing predicted improved psychological well-being at one-month. Next-day psychological insight mediated the entropy to well-being relationship. All effects were exclusive to 25mg psilocybin; no effects occurred with a 1mg psilocybin ‘placebo’ dose.