A single 1 mg/kg dose of psilocybin did not alter decision-making in probability or delay discounting tasks and did not reduce motivation in a progressive ratio task in healthy male and female rats. Psilocybin did produce the expected increase in head twitch responses, confirming the drug was pharmacologically active. These results suggest psilocybin may not impair or improve reward-based decision-making or motivation, indicating that its therapeutic effects in mental health disorders may not involve changes to brain systems underlying reward and decision-making. The findings also imply that widespread cognitive impairments may not occur even with chronic psilocybin treatment.
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, produced head twitch responses in adult rats but not in adolescent rats. Adult female rats in diestrus showed more head twitches after psilocybin than those in proestrus, indicating that hormonal phase influences the response. Adolescent exposure to psilocybin did not cause lasting changes in anxiety-like behavior or behavioral flexibility. No age- or estrous-related differences were found in 5-HT2A receptor expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. These results show age- and sex-dependent differences in psychedelic effects and emphasize the need for inclusive research that accounts for age, sex, and hormonal status.