Prenatal stress, excitatory-inhibitory imbalance, and ADHD risk: a hypothesis-driven perspective on psilocybin-induced neuroplasticity.
Translational psychiatry June 5, 2026 Samaneh Ahmadian-Moghadam, Shiva Roshan-Milani, Ehsan Saboory
Psilocybin-induced neuroplasticity could theoretically modulate stress-related neurodevelopmental risk pathways relevant to ADHD, but this remains a speculative hypothesis rather than an evidence-based intervention. Preclinical studies in non-ADHD models show psilocybin can induce rapid synaptic plasticity, alter cortical excitatory-inhibitory dynamics, and reverse stress-associated alterations. Human clinical trials in mood, trauma-related, and substance use disorders demonstrate durable changes in emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and brain network organization—processes overlapping with ADHD neural systems. Emerging preliminary, largely self-reported studies suggest potential benefits for inattention, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation. Key mechanistic uncertainties and ethical considerations, especially for vulnerable populations, are emphasized as critical constraints on translation.