Effects of psilocybin microdosing on awe and aesthetic experiences: a preregistered field and lab-based study
Psychopharmacology April 30, 2021 Michiel van Elk, George Fejer, Pascal Lempe et al. 53 citations
People who take small, non-hallucinogenic doses of psilocybin (microdosing) report feeling more awe when watching videos of funny animals and moving objects compared to when they take a placebo. However, about two-thirds of participants correctly guessed whether they had received psilocybin or placebo, suggesting that expectancy effects—rather than the drug itself—may explain the subjective benefits of microdosing. The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design with a microdosing workshop and lab visits over several weeks.