A pre-print study has shown for the first time that a single 25mg dose of psilocybin causes physical changes in the human brain.
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A new pre-print study has revealed that a single high dose of psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, can cause measurable physical changes in the human brain. The study involved 28 healthy participants with no prior experience using psychedelics and assessed their brains before and after psilocybin consumption through a variety of techniques, including EEG, fMRI, and DTI.
In the experiment, participants first received a 1mg placebo dose of psilocybin, followed by a 25mg dose one month later. The analysis of the brain scans and recordings revealed significant anatomical and functional changes after the high dose. These changes, particularly in brain structure and connectivity, were not seen after the placebo dose. Most notably, the changes were observed in two prefrontal cortex to subcortex tracts, which became more compact one month after the high dose.
This study is groundbreaking because while many previous studies have demonstrated psilocybin's ability to induce profound psychological changes, this is the first to show physical alterations in the brain. Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a well-known figure in psychedelic research, highlighted the significance of this finding but cautioned that the implications of these physical changes remain unclear.
The findings align with earlier studies, including a 2021 study by Yale University, which showed that psilocybin could increase the density and size of dendritic spines—key structures in neurons that help transmit information—when administered to mice.
In addition to brain structure changes, the study also tracked behavioral shifts. Participants reported increased cognitive flexibility, psychological insight, and well-being one month after taking the high dose. All but one participant described the psilocybin experience as the most unusual conscious state they had ever encountered.
The authors of the study expressed the need for follow-up research to confirm and further explore the significance of these findings. As the study is still in its pre-print phase and has not been peer-reviewed, more investigation is required to fully understand the impact of psilocybin on the brain. Nonetheless, this research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that psychedelics could have profound and lasting effects on brain structure and function.
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