Magic Mushrooms Can Change Our Brain for a Month

Topic: Health

Researchers at UC San Francisco and Imperial College London found that a single dose of psilocybin, a psychedelic substance in magic mushrooms, can change our brain for up to a month. They studied 28 healthy adults who had never used psychedelics before. The team discovered that the brain's activity became more diverse and unpredictable after taking psilocybin, which may help explain why it has therapeutic potential for depression, anxiety, and addiction.

Researchers at UC San Francisco and Imperial College London studied how a single dose of psilocybin affects our brain. They recruited 28 healthy adults who had never used psychedelics before. The team gave each participant a small dose of 1 mg of psilocybin, which they treated as a placebo. They then monitored the participants' brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), functional MRI (fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

After this initial test, the researchers gave the participants a higher dose of 25 mg of psilocybin. This is enough to produce a powerful psychedelic experience. They again monitored the brain activity using EEG, fMRI, and DTI.

The team found that within 60 minutes of taking the 25 mg dose, the brain's activity became more diverse and unpredictable. This is known as an increase in 'brain entropy.' The researchers also found signs that neural tracts were denser and showed greater integrity one month later. This pattern was the reverse of changes commonly associated with aging.

The team emphasized that additional studies are needed to determine exactly what these structural findings mean. However, they described the result as a previously unseen indication that psychedelics may produce lasting changes in the brain.

Why It Matters

This study is important because it shows how psilocybin can change our brain for up to a month. This could lead to new treatments for depression, anxiety, and addiction. It also raises questions about the potential long-term effects of psychedelic use on our brain and behavior.

Key Facts

• 28 healthy adults were recruited for the study.
• The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG), functional MRI (fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to monitor brain activity.
• A single dose of psilocybin can increase brain entropy, making our brain's activity more diverse and unpredictable.
• Neural tracts were denser and showed greater integrity one month later after taking 25 mg of psilocybin.
• The study suggests that psychedelics may produce lasting changes in the brain.

Key Terms

Psilocybin

A psychedelic substance found in magic mushrooms, which can change our brain's activity.

EEG

A test that measures electrical signals in our brain using electrodes on the scalp.

fMRI

A test that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of our brain's activity.

Implications

This study is important because it shows how psilocybin can change our brain for up to a month. This could lead to new treatments for depression, anxiety, and addiction. It also raises questions about the potential long-term effects of psychedelic use on our brain and behavior.