Psilocybin’s kinematic effect on manual dexterity
Psychopharmacology June 17, 2026 Pierre Klintefors, Chiranth Bhagavan, Richard Kanaan et al.
Low to moderate doses of psilocybin (5–20 mg) do not meaningfully disrupt manual dexterity or hand coordination in healthy adults. In a blinded trial, participants showed a modest biphasic dose-response pattern at higher doses (10–20 mg): slight impairment during peak effects and slight improvement 4.5 hours after administration, but effect sizes were small compared to baseline variability. Kinematic analyses found no substantial changes in movement smoothness or velocity, and the latent coordination structure remained stable, though finger movements showed a subtle increase in complexity. These results support the feasibility of combining psilocybin with active motor rehabilitation.