A recent study indicates that psilocybin active ingredient in magic mushrooms, might play a pivotal role in treating various mental health disorders. However, the exact impact of this psychedelic compound on brain function remains largely unknown. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have taken a significant step towards understanding this by conducting a study published in Nature.
In this meticulously controlled study, brain scans were conducted on seven healthy participants before, during, and after ingesting psilocybin. Each participant underwent 18 fMRI scans, revealing that the connections between different brain areas within established networks were disrupted. Simultaneously, there was an increase in communication between different brain networks. This suggests that psilocybin induces a state where the brain processes information less predictably, resulting in a more disordered state.
The use of an “active control” (a stimulant drug) further strengthened the study’s validity. One notable finding was the enduring changes in connectivity between the hippocampus (involved in short-term memory) and the default mode network (active when a person is resting). These changes could underlie the potential neuroplastic and therapeutic effects of psilocybin.
Study Limitations and Considerations
Despite the promising results, the study’s small sample size and the exclusive inclusion of healthy volunteers limit the generalizability of the findings to patient populations who might benefit from psilocybin-assisted therapy. Additionally, there is a risk of “selection bias,” and maintaining a double-blind procedure can be challenging due to psilocybin’s noticeable effects.
The study did not report any long-term improvements in participants’ well-being, which raises questions about the clinical relevance of psilocybin. There are also potential conflicts of interest related to the commercialization of neurotechnologies used in the study, which need to be considered as possible sources of bias.
