300 Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: An fMRI pilot study
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science – April 01, 2024
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly rewired brain responses to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder. A pilot neuroscience study of 11 adults revealed that a single 25mg dose of this hallucinogen increased activity in brain regions associated with goal-directed action and emotional regulation, such as the prefrontal cortex. Simultaneously, functional connectivity analysis showed decreased activity in areas linked to craving. This psychological shift, observed in 5 psilocybin recipients versus 6 placebo patients, suggests psilocybin could diminish cue reactivity, offering a promising avenue for psychiatry and clinical psychology in treating alcohol addiction.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This pilot study investigated psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Participants were recruited from a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) for the treatment of AUD (NCT02061293). Eleven adult patients completed task-based blood oxygen dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approximately 3 days before and 2 days after receiving 25 mg of psilocybin (n = 5) or 50 mg of diphenhydramine (n = 6). Visual alcohol and emotionally valanced (positive, negative, or neutral) stimuli were presented in block design. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Across both alcohol and emotional cues, psilocybin increased activity in the medial and lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and left caudate, and decreased activity in the insular, motor, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, and cerebellum. Unique to negative cues, psilocybin increased supramarginal gyrus activity; unique to positive cues, psilocybin increased right hippocampus activity and decreased left hippocampus activity. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Greater PFC and caudate engagement and concomitant insula, motor, and cerebellar disengagement suggests enhanced goal-directed action, improved emotional regulation, and diminished craving. The robust changes in brain activity observed in this pilot study warrant larger neuroimaging studies to elucidate neural mechanisms of PAT.