Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
June 30, 2026
Lucie Ladislavová, Viera Kútná, Kristýna Mazochová et al.
Chronic microdosing of psilocin (0.05 or 0.075 mg/kg) in adult male Wistar rats over five weeks did not alter locomotor activity, depressive-like behavior, sociability, or novelty seeking, and did not increase cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. A small anxiogenic effect was detected in the Elevated Plus Maze. The findings suggest that, under this dosing schedule, psilocin microdosing produces limited behavioral effects and does not enhance hippocampal progenitor proliferation.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 28, 2026
Yiğit Özaydın, Buket Canlan Ozaydin
An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psychedelic microdosing (repeated low doses of LSD or psilocybin) for mood and cognitive effects found that the only statistically significant pooled result was a small decrease in cognitive control, contrary to popular claims of enhancement. Self-reported mood benefits were largely not replicated under placebo-controlled conditions, suggesting expectancy effects. Short-term tolerability was acceptable, but cardiovascular signals and long-term risks remain uncharacterized. The evidence base is limited by high overlap among primary studies and methodological heterogeneity.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
June 19, 2026
Carla J. Berg, Darcey M. Mccready, Cassidy R. Loparco et al.
Among a sample of young adults with high rates of past-month cannabis use, lifetime and past-year psychedelic use were 27.7% and 11.9%, respectively, with psilocybin/amanita, MDMA, and LSD being most common. Nearly half used psychedelics only for nonmedical purposes. Of those who had ever used, 26.5% had microdosed. Older age, male sex, Black race, metropolitan residence, more depressive symptoms, and more adverse childhood events were linked to lifetime use. Microdosing was associated with not having children, more anxiety, and more adverse childhood events. Mental health symptoms and adverse childhood events were also tied to higher use motives, including expansion, mood enhancement, and symptom management.
Journal of Advances in Developmental Research
June 18, 2026
Eric P. Rubenstein
The term 'microdosing' is often treated as a single phenomenon, but it actually describes a low-dose pattern applied across many substances with different mechanisms, effects, and risks. This conceptual review classifies psychedelic and psychedelic-adjacent substances—including classical psychedelics, dissociatives, empathogens, and natural compounds—by therapeutic plausibility, pharmacological mechanism, dose-response, perceptibility, tolerance, neuroplasticity, context, and evidence strength. The article argues that without separating these factors, microdosing research cannot yield interpretable or scientifically meaningful conclusions.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
June 3, 2026
Burton J. Tabaac, Robin L. Carhart-Harris, Teresa Yung
Three individuals with persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury or hypoxic-ischemic brain injury completed a six-week protocol combining a participant-directed iboga-containing microdosing regimen (using whole root bark biomass with about 3.845% ibogaine content, yielding an estimated 3.8–38.5 mg/day ibogaine equivalent) with weekly Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy and supportive nutraceuticals. All three showed progressive neurological recovery; two reported complete symptom remission at long-term follow-up. Participants discontinued all prescription medications and reported resolution of headaches, brain fog, fatigue, irritability, and mood swings, with a return to regular activities and renewed enthusiasm. The authors note that the findings do not establish causality or iboga-specific efficacy due to the multimodal intervention and methodological limitations.
Rand health quarterly
June 1, 2026
M. Priest, B. Kilmer, Ben Senator et al.
Use of psychedelic substances is becoming more common in the U.S., with several states considering policies to decriminalize or legalize them for nonmedical use. Survey data on 11 psychedelic substances show that microdosing—taking a small, sub-hallucinogenic dose on a regular schedule—is a prevalent practice, especially for psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA. The findings provide new information to inform policy debates about alternatives to prohibition.