How sex and environmental conditions shape psilocybin's effects on social and cognitive function in mice
Monash University June 23, 2026 Sheida Shadani
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, alters social behavior differently in male and female mice, with effects changing over time. Female mice became more social and showed increased brain reward signals, while males displayed reduced stress behaviors and dampened brain responses. Psilocybin also affected inflammation differently depending on whether mice were exercising. These findings highlight that males and females respond very differently to psilocybin, which is crucial for developing treatments for anorexia nervosa, a condition affecting primarily women where current medications are limited.