Psilocybin increases optimistic engagement over time: computational modelling of behavior in rats
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) May 17, 2024 Elizabeth L. Fisher, Ryan Smith, Andrew W. Corcoran et al. 2 citations preprint
Rats treated with psilocybin achieved more rewards in a decision-making task, driven by increased task engagement, altered forgetting rates, and reduced loss aversion. Computational modeling of the rats' behavior revealed that psilocybin may induce an optimism bias through changes in how beliefs are updated. This finding has potential relevance for clinical populations characterized by a lack of optimism, such as those with depression.