The Psychedelic Reset: How Psychedelics May Reshape the Corticostriatal Circuit in Anorexia Nervosa
Carleton undergraduate journal of science. September 2, 2025 Maham Khurram
Anorexia nervosa involves compulsive eating restrictions and cognitive inflexibility linked to dysregulation in cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical circuitry, particularly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and dorsal striatum, which reinforces maladaptive habits. Current treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and medications are ineffective at addressing these neural dysfunctions. Recent research suggests psilocybin can modulate cortico-striatal function, improving rigid behavioral patterns and restoring goal-directed control over eating. Animal studies and human trials provide evidence that psilocybin therapy promotes cognitive flexibility and disrupts maladaptive decision-making, showing strong therapeutic potential for eating disorders by restoring functional connectivity in CSTC circuits.