Taking psilocybin for science

In a study with 60 healthy volunteers who took psilocybin (magic mushrooms) in a laboratory, researchers used brain scans to record neural activity during the psychedelic experience. The work is part of a broader effort to find new treatments for mental health disorders, which affect about half of Australians over their lifetime. The text reports that scientists at Monash University are scanning the brains of healthy participants to understand how psilocybin alters brain function, potentially informing future therapeutic applications.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Sixty healthy volunteers took magic mushrooms in a lab, and scientists recorded their brains during their experience. Approximately half of the Australian population will experience a mental health disorder during their lifetime, and scientists are turning to an unlikely place in the search for treatment. Researchers at Monash University are scanning the brains of healthy […]