Microdosing psychedelics has no impact on cognitive function in naturalistic settings

Microdosing psychedelics—taking amounts too small to alter perception—is often reported to boost cognitive performance, but a remote testing study of 17 participants using a neurocognitive battery found no significant improvement or decline in processing speed, sustained attention, inhibitory control, set shifting, working memory, visual memory, or verbal memory on microdosing days or the day after. The results suggest that any perceived enhancement may stem from psychological rather than neurocognitive effects. Remote cognitive testing could facilitate larger, cross-cultural studies by easing participant burden.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background and aim: Subjective and anecdotal accounts link ingestion of psychedelic microdoses, quantities small enough to retain perceptual clarity, to enhanced cognitive function and performance. In this study we review current evidence, test the link between domains of cognitive function and microdosing psychedelics and evaluate a remote testing approach for cognitive function. Methods: In an observational within-subjects design, we repeatedly assessed 17 participants during their microdosing regimen using the CNSVS neurocognitive battery in a naturalistic setting. Results: We found that neither the day of microdosing, nor the day after microdosing are significantly linked to enhanced or diminished performance on processing speed, sustained attention, inhibitory control, set shifting, working memory, visual memory and verbal memory. Conclusion: Microdosing psychedelics may act on psychological rather than neurocognitive pathways to induce a subjective feeling of performance enhancement. The use of remote cognitive batteries might benefit longitudinal cross-cultural studies by reducing participant burden