Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study
Scientific Reports February 7, 2024 Broc A. Pagni, Petros Petridis, Samantha K. Podrebarac et al. 30 citations
In a small pilot study, patients with alcohol use disorder underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after receiving either psilocybin or diphenhydramine. Psilocybin increased activity in the medial and lateral prefrontal cortex and left caudate, while decreasing activity in the insular, motor, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, and cerebellum. For negative emotional cues, psilocybin increased supramarginal gyrus activity; for positive cues, it increased right hippocampus activity and decreased left hippocampus activity. These brain changes suggest enhanced goal-directed action, improved emotional regulation, and diminished craving, but larger studies are needed to confirm the neural mechanisms of psilocybin-assisted therapy.