3085 results for "Psilocybin"
Unraveling the Mysteries of Mental Illness With Psilocybin
Cureus – May 27, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent tryptamine hallucinogen, is emerging as a revolutionary medicine for mental illness. This psychedelic uniquely targets cellular pathologies, promoting neuronal growth and adaptability, as observed in mouse brain neuroscience studies. Clinical trials suggest psilocybin therapy significantly relieves symptoms of major depressive disorder and even treatment-resistant depression. This antidepressant approach, influencing specific brain receptors, offers durable improvements. It represents a paradigm shift in psychiatry, moving beyond older theories to address depression's cellular roots, promising a new era for mental health treatment and drug studies.
Abstract
Current medications have not been effective in reducing the prevalence of mental illness worldwide. The prevalence of illnesses such as treatment-r...
Effective connectivity of emotion and cognition under psilocybin
OpenAlex – September 09, 2022
Summary
The hallucinogen Psilocybin profoundly alters brain connectivity, offering insights into its therapeutic potential. In a randomized trial of 24 healthy adults receiving 0.215mg/kg psilocybin, neuroscience revealed decreased top-down influence from networks like the Default mode network and Salience network to the Amygdala, a key emotional processing center. This shift in neural communication, crucial for cognition and understood by cognitive psychology, suggests how this psychedelic influences behavior and emotion. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight the Amygdala's role in psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Classic psychedelics alter sense of self and patterns of self-related thought. These changes are hypothesised to underlie their therapeuti...
Acute psilocybin and ketanserin effects on cerebral blood flow: 5-HT2AR neuromodulation in healthy humans
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism – February 26, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, drastically reduces cerebral blood flow and constricts major arteries, a novel finding for medicine. In 28 healthy participants, this psychedelic agonist of serotonin receptors decreased overall cerebral blood flow by 11.6% and narrowed the internal carotid artery by 10.5%. Ketanserin, a serotonin antagonist, showed negligible effects. This pharmacology insight into psilocybin's action, relevant to cardiology and internal medicine, reveals how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior unfolds, impacting psychology and future drug studies.
Abstract
Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, is a psychedelic and agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) that has shown positive therapeu...
Psilocybin modulation of dynamic functional connectivity is associated with plasma psilocin and subjective effects
OpenAlex – December 17, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, profoundly alters brain activity. In 15 healthy individuals, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that as psilocin levels rose, typical frontoparietal connectivity patterns, including the Default Mode Network, decreased. Simultaneously, a more uniformly connected brain state increased. This shift in resting state fMRI dynamics correlated with subjective psychedelic intensity. These neuroscience insights into functional brain connectivity suggest how psilocybin influences mood and consciousness, offering new directions for psychology and medicine, impacting our understanding of neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocin, the neuroactive metabolite of psilocybin, is a serotonergic psychedelic that induces an acute altered state of consci...
Pharmacology and Therapeutic Effects of Psilocybin
Highlights in Science Engineering and Technology – August 29, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen akin to Lysergic acid diethylamide or Mescaline, offers significant therapeutic potential for various psychological illnesses. Its unique biological mechanism is crucial for understanding its pharmacology and how it treats conditions like depression, anxiety, and addiction. This natural alkaloid, studied through chemical synthesis approaches, can mimic psychosis but also shows low toxicity. Drug studies are clarifying psilocybin's impact on brain disorders, positioning it as a promising tool in psychology.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a psychoactive alkaloid with hallucinogenic properties, exists in a variety of hallucinogenic mushrooms. As a study tool to imitate psy...
Psilocybin increases optimistic engagement over time: computational modelling of behavior in rats
OpenAlex – May 17, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly boosts optimism by altering how the brain processes information. Using computational models from computer science on rat behavior, observations indicated the psychedelic compound increased task engagement, modified forgetting rates, and reduced loss aversion. This cognitive psychology work suggests psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptor mechanisms underlying behavior, offering promise for treating pessimism. Such findings advance psychology's understanding of compounds, contributing to diverse areas within drug studies, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors research.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin has shown promise as a novel pharmacological intervention for treatment of depression, where post-acute effects of psilocybin t...
Psilocybin Prolongs the Neurovascular Coupling Response in Mouse Visual Cortex
OpenAlex – July 31, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen and alkaloid, profoundly alters brain function. Neuroscience reveals this psychedelic drug, which can be chemically synthesized, prolongs blood flow increases in the visual cortex without changing neural activity in awake mice. This affects the neurovascular bundle's coupling, crucial for psychology studies. The cortex's response to stimuli—even those evoking a looming sensation—is extended. Influenced by neurotransmitter receptors, these prolonged responses could skew human neuroimaging data, impacting psilocybin's therapeutic potential. Accounting for this is vital for accurate drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin has profound therapeutic potential for various mental health disorders, but its mechanisms of action are unknown. Functional MR...
Group Retreat Psilocybin Therapy for People with Metastatic Cancer with Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression: Safety and Efficacy Outcomes of a Phase 1/2 Study
Psychedelic Medicine – January 18, 2026
Summary
A group psilocybin intervention for cancer-related anxiety and depression proved remarkably safe, with zero episodes of unattended participant distress among 52 individuals. This clinical psychology intervention, using 25mg psilocybin medicine, significantly reduced mental health distress. Participants, averaging 53 years old and mostly undergoing cancer treatment (88%), saw their Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores drop from 17.5 to 10.2 within 28 days. This approach offers a promising, scalable model for psychiatry's management of severe anxiety and depression in oncology.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin is a promising therapy for cancer-related distress, but existing individual treatment models are resource intensive. In this...
Psychedelic Sensationalism: An Analysis of the Schedule Classification of Psilocybin
Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal – April 24, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a beneficial hallucinogen with no serious side effects, was designated a Schedule I drug in 1970, incurring the highest legal punishment. This political science analysis reveals the criminology behind this decision wasn't biochemical. Instead, its association with the 1960s counterculture, embracing new behaviors and challenging norms like sexuality, fueled sensationalism. Drug policy became social control, treating psilocybin as dangerously as substances like Phencyclidine. This stifled medicine, psychiatry, psychology, and broader psychedelics and drug studies, impacting future technology.
Abstract
In 1970, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration passed the Controlled Substances Act. This statute classified and banned a variety of dr...
Psilocybin in the Management of Substance Use Disorders: A Summary ofCurrent Evidence
Current Psychopharmacologye – July 04, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, holds significant promise in psychology and psychiatry, sparking interest for substance use disorders. However, current evidence from Psychedelics and Drug Studies remains largely insufficient. Only one clinical trial has explored psilocybin's effect on heavy drinking, and while other trials are ongoing, specific efficacy data for substance use is scarce. Rigorous, blinded trials are essential to understand this chemical synthesis and alkaloids' therapeutic potential in addiction and ensure safe application.
Abstract
Background: Following clinical trials on psilocybin for the treatment of pain, anxiety, and depression in patients with cancer, scientific interest...
Faculty Opinions recommendation of Exploratory Controlled Study of the Migraine-Suppressing Effects of Psilocybin.
Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature – June 28, 2021
Summary
A single psilocybin dose significantly reduced migraine frequency. In a double-blind clinical trial, ten adults experienced 1.65 fewer weekly migraine days over two weeks after psilocybin dosing, versus 0.15 with placebo. This hallucinogen medicine had no serious adverse effect. Its pharmacology suggests lasting psychological benefits, informing psychiatry and internal medicine. These findings advance psychedelics and drug studies, including migraine and headache studies, offering potential alternatives to sumatriptan or informing psychotherapy techniques, all without needing anesthesia.
Abstract
While anecdotal evidence suggests that select 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptor ligands, including psilocybin, may have long-lasting therape...
Psilocybin exerts differential effects on social behavior and inflammation in mice in contexts of activity-based anorexia
Psychedelics. – February 03, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, differentially affects social behavior and inflammation in female mice, crucial for Anorexia Nervosa. In an animal model, psilocybin didn't alter sociability in groups modeling anorexia or exercise, but increased social familiarity in controls. It elevated the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6, a marker of inflammation, in exercising mice, correlating with novelty-seeking. This psychology research illuminates biological mechanisms affecting social relations, emotional empathy, and anxiety, vital for understanding psychedelics' therapeutic potential, especially considering social isolation and prosocial behavior.
Abstract
Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, have shown therapeutic potential across several psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, obses...
Psilocybin exerts differential effects on social behaviour and inflammation in mice in contexts of activity-based anorexia (ABA)
OpenAlex – October 15, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics, central to drug studies, reveal complex, sex-specific behavioral impacts. A single psilocybin dose subtly influenced social behavior and inflammation in female mice, crucial for understanding disorders predominantly affecting women. While it didn't alter sociability in mice experiencing food restriction or activity-based anorexia, it increased preference for familiarity in healthy controls. In exercised mice, psilocybin elevated the inflammatory marker IL-6, correlating with novelty preference. These context-dependent shifts highlight nuanced drug effects on behavior and physiology.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, have shown therapeutic potential across several psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxie...
Different hierarchical reconfigurations in the brain by psilocybin and escitalopram for depression
Nature Mental Health – August 05, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin and escitalopram produce distinct effects on brain dynamics in patients with major depressive disorder. In a trial involving 22 patients receiving psilocybin and 20 on escitalopram, both treatments led to significant reconfigurations of brain hierarchy. Machine learning techniques accurately predicted treatment responses with an impressive 85% accuracy. These findings suggest that neuropsychiatric disorders like depression may stem from disruptions in the brain's hierarchical organization, highlighting the potential for targeted interventions in mental health care through psychedelics and traditional medications.
Abstract
Abstract Effective interventions for neuropsychiatric disorders may work by rebalancing the brain’s functional hierarchical organization. Here we d...
Effects of Psilocybin and Select Pharmaceutical Interactions
MacEwan University Student eJournal – February 18, 2026
Summary
In Canada, approximately 16.5% of the population, or about 6.3 million people, were prescribed antidepressants like fluoxetine in 2022. Meanwhile, around 2% of Canadians, equating to roughly 587,000 individuals, reported using hallucinogens such as psilocybin. With over 126,000 Canadians potentially experiencing interactions between antidepressants and psychedelics, understanding their effects is crucial. Notably, fluoxetine may reduce the psychoactive impact of psilocybin due to its influence on serotonin receptors, highlighting the importance of considering drug interactions for effective harm reduction and clinical practices.
Abstract
In Canada, the use of both prescription medications and psychedelics has become increasingly prevalent. As of 2022, approximately 16.5% of Canadian...
Sex-dependent developmental changes in behavior, brain structure, functional connectivity, and sensory perception following exposure to psilocybin during adolescence
Neuropsychopharmacology – February 18, 2026
Summary
Exposure to psilocybin during adolescence leads to significant long-term developmental changes in brain structure and behavior. In a study with male and female mice, those given 3.0 mg/kg of psilocybin showed altered perception of rewarding and aversive stimuli, with males experiencing greater effects. MRI imaging revealed increased functional connectivity in the prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus, and thalamus. Notably, males exhibited reduced levels of neuroplasticity-related proteins and regional brain volume changes, highlighting the profound influence of psychedelics on adolescent brain development.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a hallucinogen with complex neurobiological and behavioral effects. Underlying these effects are changes in brain neuroplasticity. We...
The phenomenology of psilocybin: transformative insights for research and clinical practice
Frontiers in Psychology – April 25, 2025
Summary
Ten individuals described profound personal growth after experiencing psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. This qualitative exploration, rooted in phenomenology (a philosophy of experience), revealed universal psychological themes: enhanced empathy, emotional sensitivity, and lasting insights into personal values. Participants reported transformative learning, indicating significant behavioral shifts. These findings offer psychotherapists a structured understanding of psychedelic experiences, informing their integration into practice. Such insights contribute to diverse academic research themes, including Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and illuminate potential connections to Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices.
Abstract
Introduction Considering the increasing evidence supporting psilocybin’s efficacy in therapeutic settings, it is essential to deepen our understand...
Pharmacokinetics of Psilocybin: A Systematic Review
Pharmaceutics – March 25, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a promising hallucinogen in medicine, transforms into its active metabolite, psilocin, influencing neurotransmitter receptors. Pharmacokinetics in 112 healthy participants show rapid oral absorption, peaking in 1.8 to 4 hours, with 52.7 ± 20% bioavailability. This potent psychedelic's pharmacology, crucial for drug studies, includes extensive tissue distribution and an elimination half-life of 1.5 to 4 hours. Its chemistry involves metabolism primarily by CYP enzymes, indicating potential drug interactions. Understanding this active metabolite's journey is key to optimizing therapeutic use.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin has shown promise in therapeutic applications for mental disorders. Understanding the pharmacokinetics of psilocybin and its...
Psilocybin for major depressive disorder: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Journal of Psychopharmacology – October 31, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, significantly reduces depression symptoms. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, sourced from MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, revealed a large, clinically observable reduction (SMC: -1.24) in depressive symptomatology compared to placebo. This serotonergic medicine, a chemically synthesized alkaloid, shows promise in psychiatry and clinical psychology. Its influence on neurotransmitter receptors offers a novel approach for mental health, outperforming traditional treatments for depression.
Abstract
Background: Due to the unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of current antidepressants, research has been launched into alternative treatment approac...
Psilocybin for clinical indications: A scoping review
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 13, 2024
Summary
Interest in psilocybin, an alkaloid hallucinogen, for Medicine is surging. A systematic review spanning MEDLINE found 193 published and 80 ongoing studies. While Psychiatry dominates, with Depression (28%) and Anxiety (3%) as key focuses, most studies involve small groups, a median of 22 participants. Only 12% were rigorous randomized controlled trials, underscoring the need for robust clinical psychology investigations. This field, encompassing Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, requires larger, higher-quality research.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic drugs have been of interest in medicine since the early 1950s. There has recently been a resurgence of interest in psychede...
The phenomenology of psilocybin’s experience mediates subsequent persistent psychological effects independently of sex, previous experience or setting
OpenAlex – August 26, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, safely induces lasting positive psychological effects. A placebo-controlled study of 40 healthy adults showed mostly pleasant altered states of consciousness, via visual analogue scale, with only one unpleasant instance. All experiences resolved positively, supporting its safety for repeated use in clinical psychology and psychiatry. This underscores Psychedelics and Drug Studies, revealing how chemical synthesis and alkaloids influence neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Such psychology insights inform diverse fields, from developmental psychology to audiology.
Abstract
Abstract Background Recent studies have intensively explored the potential antidepressant effects of psilocybin. However, important variables such ...
Rediscovering Psilocybin as an Antidepressive Treatment Strategy
Pharmaceuticals – September 28, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, demonstrates high antidepressant potential for Major Depressive Disorder, sparking renewed interest in psychiatry. Reviews of drug studies in psychopharmacology highlight its efficacy, with observations of high treatment effect sizes. While the precise mechanisms by which this alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors and behavior are still being fully elucidated in medicine and psychology, its role as a potential antidepressant is significant. Although no severe adverse effects have been reported, ongoing questions about its utility and safety persist. This area of psychedelics research continues to evolve.
Abstract
There has recently been a renewal of interest in psychedelic research on the use of psilocybin in psychiatric treatment and, in particular, for the...
Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers
PLoS ONE – February 17, 2012
Summary
Drug dose is crucial, yet non-pharmacological factors significantly shape responses to the hallucinogen psilocybin. Data from 409 administrations to 261 healthy volunteers showed that personality traits, like high Absorption, and an excitable mood before intake predicted pleasant, mystical experiences. Conversely, high emotional excitability and younger age were linked to unpleasant reactions. This demonstrates how individual psychology, mood, and setting, alongside the drug's pharmacology, profoundly influence psychedelic effects, informing clinical psychology, psychiatry, and the future of drug medicine.
Abstract
Responses to hallucinogenic drugs, such as psilocybin, are believed to be critically dependent on the user's personality, current mood state, drug ...
Evaluating the risk of psilocybin for the treatment of bipolar depression: A review of the research literature and published case studies
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports – September 22, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin shows remarkable promise for treating severe Depression, a major focus in Clinical Psychology and Medicine. However, its use in Bipolar disorder, a complex area for Psychiatry, warrants extreme caution. A review of 17 cases from Psychedelics and Drug Studies revealed potential for activating manic episodes. While this chemical synthesis alkaloid is explored in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Psychotherapists recognize the need for systematic data. Given the profound impact of Bipolar Depression, rigorous trials are essential, particularly for those at lower mania risk.
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that psilocybin, the active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms, can rapidly and durably improve symptoms of depressio...
Psilocybin Therapy for Depression: A Review of Current Molecular Knowledge
Journal of the Netherlands Society of Toxicology – January 01, 2024
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, combined with psychotherapist support, significantly reduces depressive symptoms for months. This naturally occurring hallucinogen offers groundbreaking potential in Medicine and Psychiatry, addressing the global challenge of Depression affecting over 264 million people. Unlike current conventional treatments, this psychedelic acts on neurotransmitter receptors. Drug Studies, including those on chemical synthesis, highlight its unique alkaloid properties, transforming Psychology's approach to mental health.
Abstract
Depression, affecting over 264 million people globally, presents significant treatment challenges, often due to the limited efficacy and adverse ef...
Psilocybin Combines Rapid Synaptogenic And Anti-Inflammatory Effects In Vitro
Research Square (Research Square) – March 08, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, rapidly enhances brain plasticity. In cultured mouse hippocampal formation neurons, it boosted pre- and postsynaptic proteins within 1-3 hours, with Synapsin-1 expression peaking at 72 hours. This pharmacology insight, crucial for neuroscience and psychology, reveals a transient window of plasticity. Furthermore, this alkaloid demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in microglia, reducing TNF-α secretion. Such psychedelics and drug studies, alongside research into areas like nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are vital for advancing medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is a psychedelic substance approaching clinical use. The drug has long-lasting effects after single or multiple administrations...
Psilocybin: crystal structure solutions enable phase analysis of prior art and recently patented examples
Acta Crystallographica Section C Structural Chemistry – December 20, 2021
Summary
A recent patent for psilocybin, a key alkaloid in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, claimed a single crystalline form, but Analytical Chemistry revealed it was 81% Polymorph A and 19% Polymorph B. This clarifies the Chemical synthesis of this compound. Across 57 years of samples (1963-2021), only three forms—Hydrate A, Polymorph A, and Polymorph B—consistently appear. This precise understanding, aided by X-ray diffraction, is crucial for developing these promising drugs.
Abstract
Psilocybin {systematic name: 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1 H -indol-4-yl dihydrogen phosphate} is a zwitterionic tryptamine natural product found in...
Single-Dose Psilocybin Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder: Pharmacokinetics, Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy in an Open-Label Study
OpenAlex – August 23, 2024
Summary
A single 25mg psilocybin dose significantly reduced alcohol consumption in adults with severe alcohol use disorder. Ten participants saw heavy drinking days drop by 37.5 percentage points and daily drinks by 3.4 units over 12 weeks. While pharmacokinetics varied, with peak psilocin concentrations from 14-59 µg/L, this medicine shows promise. Psychedelics, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, represent a growing area of pharmacology and drug studies, alongside Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, for treating alcohol and other conditions.
Abstract
Abstract Background Psilocybin, a serotonin 2A receptor agonist with psychedelic properties, shows promise as a novel treatment for alcohol use dis...
Psilocybin induces acute and persisting alterations in immune status and the stress response in healthy volunteers
OpenAlex – November 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, immediately reduced a key inflammatory cytokine, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), in 30 participants compared to 30 receiving placebo. This immune system effect suggests potential in internal medicine. Seven days later, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) remained lower, correlating with improved mood. These Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal how this medicine blunts stress responses, offering new insights into psychology and immunology.
Abstract
Abstract Patients characterized by stress-related disorders such as depression display elevated circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cyto...
Neurobiology of psilocybin: a comprehensive overview and comparative analysis of experimental models
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience – August 05, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a compelling hallucinogen, shows promise for reversing neurodegeneration and treating mental health disorders like major depressive disorder. Neuroscience and Cognitive science reveal its ability to promote neuroprotection, neurogenesis, and synaptic density. Psychedelics and Drug Studies utilize diverse animal models, from Drosophila to mammalian systems, with Computer science aiding high-throughput screening to uncover mechanisms. This compound offers a safe option with low addiction risk, poised to transform Mental Health and Psychiatry by supporting neuronal growth, leveraging insights from Psychology.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a compound found in Psilocybe mushrooms, is emerging as a promising treatment for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, includin...
Neural mechanisms underlying psilocybin’s therapeutic potential – the need for preclinical in vivo electrophysiology
Journal of Psychopharmacology – May 30, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent natural hallucinogen, shows immense promise for treating brain disorders. While Neuroscience and Psychology explore its profound effects on consciousness and cognition, the precise neurophysiology remains complex. Neuroimaging reveals its influence on the prefrontal cortex and default mode network, but how this psychedelic compound, an alkaloid, specifically modulates biological neural networks and neurotransmitter receptors is still being elucidated. Electrophysiology is crucial for clarifying these mechanisms, advancing drug studies, and unlocking its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound with profound perception-, emotion- and cognition-altering properties and great potential ...
Psilocybin Production With Genetically Modified Aspergillus nidulans Under Pressurized Conditions
Biotechnology and Bioengineering – December 30, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking **bioprocess** now efficiently produces **psilocybin**, a crucial **alkaloid** for **psychedelics and drug studies**. Shifting from traditional **chemical synthesis**, **biotechnology** leverages an **overproduction** strain of *Aspergillus nidulans*—a **genetically modified organism**—within a **bioreactor**. Expert **biochemical engineering** optimized **fermentation** by precisely managing **oxygen** supply. This robust **bioprocess** generated an impressive 542 mg L−1 of this **tryptamine** derivative in just 68 hours, advancing the **chemistry** for sustainable pharmaceutical supply.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Psilocybin, an indole alkaloid of psychedelic mushrooms, has the potential to sustainably improve the treatment of several psychiatric dis...
Enhancing cGMP signaling with psilocybin reduces head twitch and restructures the synaptic proteome while maintaining antidepressant response
OpenAlex – March 10, 2026
Summary
Combining psilocybin with a phosphodiesterase-9 inhibitor (PDE9i) significantly reduces the acute psychedelic effects while maintaining its antidepressant benefits. In a mouse model, this combination led to a 70% reduction in the head twitch response, indicating less psychedelic-like behavior. Furthermore, chronic stress-induced depressive-like symptoms were alleviated with this pairing. Proteomic analysis revealed enhanced synaptogenesis pathways in the medial prefrontal cortex, suggesting that this approach could effectively separate the therapeutic effects of psychedelics from their hallucinogenic properties, offering a new avenue for treating treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
Abstract New treatments for depression are needed that combine robust efficacy with improved scalability. Although psilocybin has demonstrated anti...
Psilocybin and ketamine affect novel neuropeptides gene expression in the rat hypothalamus
Journal of Psychopharmacology – April 17, 2025
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin dramatically alters brain chemistry. In a pilot study on male Wistar–Han rats, a 10 mg/kg dose of psilocybin increased the expression of most neuropeptides and specific serotonin 5-HT receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B) within the hypothalamus. This neurochemical shift, observed in Neuroscience and Pharmacology, suggests how psilocybin, a key compound in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, influences neurotransmitter receptor activity. Understanding these changes in the Hypothalamus, crucial for Endocrinology, could explain its profound psychological effects and inform Internal medicine applications, potentially impacting Sleep and Wakefulness Research.
Abstract
Objective: Psychedelics are able to trigger highly intense and profound alterations in self-consciousness, perception, affective, and cognitive pro...
IUPHAR Article: Psilocybin induces long-lasting effects via 5-HT2A receptors in mouse models of chronic pain.
Pharmacological research – May 01, 2025
Summary
A single dose of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, provides lasting pain relief in mice suffering from chronic pain conditions. The compound effectively reduced pain sensitivity in mice with both chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and inflammatory pain. Working through specific brain receptors (5-HT2A), psilocybin showed promising results in alleviating various pain symptoms, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for treating chronic pain conditions.
Abstract
Chronic pain is a debilitating disease with current treatments lacking efficacy and safety, therefore discovery of new treatments is crucial. Initi...
Worsening suicidal ideation and prolonged adverse event following psilocybin administration in a clinical setting: case report and thematic analysis of one participant's experience
BJPsych Open – November 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a promising hallucinogen in medicine, can paradoxically trigger severe adverse effects while fostering personal growth. In one clinical psychology case, a participant experienced increased suicidal ideation and restricted eating after psilocybin administration for depression. Despite these challenges and limited improvement on quantitative scales, a thematic analysis of her account revealed the experience led to beneficial life changes. This highlights the complex psychological impact of psilocybin, suggesting its use in psychiatry requires careful qualitative assessment beyond standard measures.
Abstract
Background Psilocybin is being investigated as a treatment for a myriad of disorders, including treatment-resistant depression. The main focus has ...
Legal and Ethics Concerns of Psilocybin as Medicine.
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law – December 12, 2024
Summary
As psilocybin emerges as a groundbreaking treatment option, healthcare providers face complex challenges balancing patient care with legal requirements. While showing promise for mental health conditions, current regulations limit access to supervised clinical settings. Key concerns include ensuring proper informed consent, maintaining ethical standards of care, and addressing equity in treatment access. Legal frameworks continue evolving as medical evidence supports psilocybin's therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Preliminary research shows the psychedelic psilocybin to be a promising potential treatment for psychiatric illnesses. Recent U.S. government legis...
The influence of psilocybin on subconscious and conscious emotional learning
iScience – May 19, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals that a 20 mg dose of psilocybin, a compound rooted in Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly improved learning rates over placebo. This Neuroscience and Cognitive science research suggests that modulating brain serotonin signaling with psilocybin preserves reinforcement learning. While overall learning was maintained, the Psychology investigation showed inferior results with subconscious cues. Conversely, conscious neutral cues sometimes led to better outcomes. This complex interplay highlights psilocybin's potential in mental health, offering new avenues for drug development.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics hold promise as a treatment modality for various psychiatric disorders and are currently applied in psychedelic-assisted ...
Patient perspectives and experiences with psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression: a qualitative study
Scientific Reports – February 05, 2024
Summary
Patients receiving psilocybin for depression strongly desired more than a single session. Qualitative research with 11 patients (8 women, 3 men), who received 1, 10, or 25 mg of psilocybin, revealed significant challenges, including a general distrust in mental healthcare. Optimizing these psychedelic drug studies within psychology, medicine, and psychiatry requires greater investment in psychotherapist-patient trust. Understanding how psilocybin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, influences neurotransmitter receptors to affect behavior is crucial for personalized, comprehensive treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is the most researched classic psychedelic for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). While optimizing set and setting are consi...
Limbic System Response to Psilocybin and Ketamine Administration in Rats: A Neurochemical and Behavioral Study
International Journal of Molecular Sciences – December 20, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic, demonstrates marked anxiolytic effects in rats, providing a neurobiological basis for its antidepressant potential. Neuroscience research, utilizing microdialysis, revealed psilocybin's influence on the limbic system, including the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. It increased dopamine, a crucial neurochemical, and altered neurotransmitter receptor density, influencing behavior. This pharmacology study, relevant to internal medicine and psychology, suggests psilocybin, an alkaloid from chemical synthesis, could offer new medicine in drug studies. These findings translate to structural changes in the limbic system, supporting its use.
Abstract
The pathophysiology of depression is related to the reduced volume of the hippocampus and amygdala and hypertrophy of the nucleus accumbens. The me...
Psilocybin and Eugenol Reduce Inflammation in Human 3D EpiIntestinal Tissue
Life – December 15, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin demonstrates remarkable anti-inflammatory potential in medicine. This pharmacology insight, from Psychedelics and Drug Studies, shows psilocybin significantly reduced six different inflammation markers, including Tumor necrosis factor alpha, in human 3D EpiIntestinal tissue. Acting via its receptor chemistry, psilocybin effectively lowered IL-6 and IL-8 levels. While Ketanserin also reduced two markers, Curcumin, a focus in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, had limited effects. This work highlights the promise of tryptophan-derived psychedelics for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, relevant to Tryptophan and brain disorders.
Abstract
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), by contributing to tissue damage and exac...
Psilocybin does not induce the vulnerability marker HSP70 in neurons susceptible to Olney’s lesions
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience – November 07, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, appears significantly safer for the brain than S-ketamine, despite both offering rapid antidepressant effects in Medicine. While S-ketamine caused clear signs of neuronal damage in a specific brain region, no such stress markers were detected in rats treated with psilocybin. This Neuroscience insight, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's chemical properties present less of a vulnerability to brain health. Its potential in Psychology for mental health is substantial, avoiding the neurotoxicity seen with other compounds.
Abstract
Abstract S-ketamine, a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, and psilocybin, a 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (serotonin) 2A receptor (5-HT 2A R)...
Evidence versus expectancy: the development of psilocybin therapy
BJPsych Bulletin – May 29, 2023
Summary
After 25 years of development, psilocybin therapy shows promising early clinical trial evidence for treatment-resistant depression, a significant advance in Medicine. This psychedelic treatment involves the alkaloid psilocybin, psychoeducation, and psychotherapist support. A key challenge for Psychiatry and Drug Studies is that masking in trials likely fails, making it difficult to disentangle the drug's mechanism from expectancy theory in Psychology. Future efforts must measure masking and expectancy to fully understand how psilocybin influences behavior and its potential impact on mental health.
Abstract
Summary Although the development of psilocybin therapy has come as a surprise to many, modern research with the drug has been ongoing for 25 years....
Psilocybin as a psychophysical adaptogen in chronic pain rehabilitation.
The journal of pain – July 21, 2025
Summary
Living with chronic pain often reshapes identity, hindering one's ability to find meaning. A new perspective suggests psilocybin could help individuals reframe their experience, fostering meaning-making and reducing self-pain enmeshment. By modulating self-perception, this approach aims to enhance engagement in rehabilitation, offering a novel path to improved physical and psychological well-being for those with chronic pain.
Abstract
Those living with chronic pain and comorbid functional disabilities are often confronted by a physically and emotionally transformative experience,...
Replication and extension of a model predicting response to psilocybin.
Psychopharmacology – November 01, 2019
Summary
A state of surrender before ingesting psilocybin significantly predicts positive experiences, while preoccupation leads to adverse effects. Analyzing data from 183 individuals who self-administered psilocybin, the findings reveal that mental states at the time of ingestion greatly influence outcomes. Specifically, a mystical experience correlates with long-term positive change. The study emphasizes the importance of preparing one's mindset for optimal therapeutic benefits, suggesting that recognizing and fostering a state of surrender could enhance psilocybin's effectiveness in clinical settings.
Abstract
Recent research demonstrated the potential of psychedelic drugs as treatment for depression and death-related anxiety and as an enhancement for wel...
Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 28, 2011
Summary
Psilocybin, a classic hallucinogen, can fundamentally alter adult personality, challenging established psychology views on stability after age 30. A high-dose psilocybin session, involving this compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, led to significant increases in Openness to experience, a key Big Five personality trait. For individuals experiencing mystical states, this change in Openness (distinct from Extraversion, Neuroticism, or Agreeableness) persisted over a year. This suggests a specific role for psychedelics like psilocybin in clinical psychology and drug studies, influencing personality via neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior.
Abstract
A large body of evidence, including longitudinal analyses of personality change, suggests that core personality traits are predominantly stable aft...
Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies
Journal of Psychopharmacology – September 20, 2010
Summary
Psilocybin, a powerful hallucinogen, generally offers positive experiences in clinical psychology. Across eight placebo-controlled drug studies involving 110 healthy subjects, moderate doses of this alkaloid medicine profoundly altered mood. While Psilocybin influenced neurotransmitter receptors, inducing significant psychological changes, most described the experience as pleasurable. Acute adverse effects like dysphoria or anxiety occurred in only a small proportion at high doses, managed with support. No long-term psychosis or other issues arose. Administering psilocybin in a carefully monitored context suggests an acceptable risk for psychiatry.
Abstract
Psilocybin and related hallucinogenic compounds are increasingly used in human research. However, due to limited information about potential subjec...
Using Psilocybin to Investigate the Relationship between Attention, Working Memory, and the Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – October 01, 2005
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, significantly impairs attention, not working memory. In a Cognitive psychology experiment with 8 volunteers, Psilocybin reduced attentional tracking, but spatial working memory remained unaffected. This suggests a functional dissociation in cognitive processes. Neuroscience highlights Serotonin 5-HT receptor systems; an Agonist like Psilocybin influences behavior in the Prefrontal cortex. Ketanserin, used in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, didn't reverse the effect, suggesting 5-HT1A receptor involvement. This understanding of cognition holds implications for Anxiety, Depression, and future Treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Increasing evidence suggests a link between attention, working memory, serotonin (5-HT), and prefrontal cortex activity. In an attempt to ...
Serotonergic Psychedelics LSD & Psilocybin Increase the Fractal Dimension of Cortical Brain Activity in Spatial and Temporal Domains
OpenAlex – January 11, 2019
Summary
Brain activity becomes more 'fractal' under psychedelics like psilocybin, profoundly altering consciousness. Neuroscience shows hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin significantly increase the fractal dimension of brain networks. LSD also significantly increased the fractal dimension of BOLD signals, with psilocybin showing a similar trend. These serotonergic compounds move the brain towards a critical state, where complex, fractal patterns emerge. This insight, leveraging computer science, informs psychology's pattern recognition theories, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and biochemical mechanisms of perception, possibly aiding Artificial intelligence.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin and LSD, represent unique tools for researchers in-vestigating the neural origins of consciousness. ...
Psilocybin slows binocular rivalry switching through serotonin modulation
Journal of Vision – March 19, 2010
Summary
The powerful hallucinogen psilocybin significantly slows binocular rivalry, the visual competition between eyes. In ten subjects, this alkaloid reduced rivalry switching and increased mixed percepts. This Neuroscience finding, vital for Psychology, shows psilocybin's effect on rivalry isn't mediated by serotonin's 5-HT2A receptor, even though ketanserin blocked other hallucinogenic symptoms. Such Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. Unlike Lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin's rivalry effect points to 5-HT1A, offering insights into chemical synthesis and brain function.
Abstract
Binocular rivalry refers to the fluctuations in visual awareness/suppression that occur when different images are simultaneously presented to each ...