Frontiers in Pharmacology
March 9, 2022
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Maria Zofia Grzywacz, Martin Bruun Madsen et al.
91 citations
Psilocybin, a psychedelic drug, can produce lasting positive psychological changes in healthy people. In 28 healthy volunteers who received 35 medium-high doses, the intensity of the acute mystical experience, measured by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire, predicted positive persisting effects three months later. Specifically, the subscales for positive mood and mysticality were linked to later benefits, while transcendence of time/space and ineffability were not. Qualitative reports described themes of connection with the Universe, familial love, and profound beauty. The type of acute experience appears important for predicting enduring positive outcomes.
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 30, 2021
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Martin Bruun Madsen, Dea Siggaard Stenbæk et al.
79 citations
A single dose of psilocybin in 10 healthy volunteers who had never used psychedelics produced a significant decrease in resting-state functional connectivity within the executive control network (ECN) one week later, an effect that was no longer present at three months. No other changes in brain connectivity were observed at either time point. Exploratory analyses suggested that the decreased ECN connectivity at one week predicted increased mindfulness at three months. The findings point to modulation of the ECN during the psychedelic 'afterglow' period as a possible neural pathway for lasting positive effects on well-being, though the neural basis of personality changes seen at three months remains unknown.
December 14, 2021
Drummond E-Wen Mcculloch, Maria Zofia Grzywacz, M. Madsen et al.
2 citations
preprint
Psilocybin, a psychedelic drug, can produce lasting positive psychological changes in healthy people. In 35 sessions with 28 healthy volunteers, those who reported more intense mystical experiences—measured by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire—were more likely to report positive effects three months later. The subscales 'Positive Mood' and 'Mysticality' predicted these benefits, while 'Transcendence of Time and Space' and 'Ineffability' did not. Qualitative reports described themes of connection with the universe, familial love, and profound beauty. The type of acute experience appears important for predicting lasting positive outcomes.