Psilocybin's Impact on Brain Structure Revealed
Revised Article:
Get a Glimpse Into the Brain on Psilocybin Trips
Delve into the inner workings of the brain on a psilocybin trip. A recent study unveiled that this psychedelic drug can cause wide-spread modifications in brain activity, particularly in areas controlling our self-consciousness. These findings could provide insights into how psilocybin and similar compounds might be employed to tackle mental health problems such as depression.
The recent surge in scientific curiosity surrounding psilocybin and other psychedelic substances, once popular for recreational use, is noteworthy. In both anecdotal reports and small studies, psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, appears beneficial for individuals grappling with depression, substance abuse issues, and post-traumatic stress disorder, who have not responded well to other treatments. Major phase III trials for psilocybin-based depression treatment are currently underway, with potential results appearing as early as this year.
Despite the excitement, our understanding of how these drugs affect the brain remains limited. Study author and neuroimaging expert Joshua Seigel partnered with his colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis to design a trial that could help resolve some lingering questions.
The Psilocybin-Altered Brain
The trial, a randomized, controlled study, enrolled seven healthy adults aged 18 to 45, whose brains were scanned using MRI before, during, and post-administration of a strong dose of psilocybin (25 milligrams). The participants returned six to 12 months later for a second treatment. "One significant advance in our study was that we monitored participants with regular scans for weeks after they took psilocybin," Seigel shared with Gizmodo via email.
The team identified substantial brain activity changes right away. These disruptions mostly receded within days, yet some changes could still be observed weeks later. "We found that after a large dose of psilocybin, there was profound and widespread synchronization disturbances, affecting connectivity across cortical networks and subcortical structures," Seigel explained.
The most noticeable change they detected was a persisting decrease in connectivity between the anterior hippocampus and default mode network (DMN) of the brain, a connection considered crucial to our self-perception. These alterations seem to explain a significant aspect of a psychedelic trip: individuals who reported the most intense mystical experiences also exhibited the most significant changes in their DMN.
The research team's findings, published Wednesday in Nature, are based on a small sample size. To confirm their observations, further research is necessary. Nevertheless, the study supports the idea that these drugs can aid in depression treatment. Some research has found that individuals with depression often display unusual patterns of brain activity in their DMN, for instance. Consequently, by causing a bit of chaos, psilocybin may be dislodging harmful brain patterns.
Seigel also highlighted that completing a basic perception task diminished the effects of psilocybin in the brains of their volunteers. This finding could provide a neurobiological basis for "grounding"-a technique used in psychedelic-assisted therapy that encourages individuals to focus on their physical reality during a session. Grounding is believed to help people manage their psilocybin experiences safely and reduce the stress associated with intense thoughts or feelings.
A Path Forward
By measuring the brain changes associated with psilocybin consumption, the researchers aspire to create a dependable roadmap that scientists can employ when studying similar experimental substances, including those designed to evade the more mind-altering effects. Seigel is set to join New York University Langone Health's Center for Psychedelic Medicine as an assistant professor and aims to further develop this roadmap to guide testing of these new drugs.
"There are dozens of companies experimenting with novel psychedelics and non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analogs," he said. "The study offers a biomarker for testing drugs currently being developed that work similarly to psychedelics. It could help determine if a novel drug is targeting the right areas and decide on the optimal dosage."
- The upcoming results from major phase III trials could potentially revolutionize the future of science and health, as they aim to establish psilocybin as a viable treatment option for depression.
- The recent study, published in Nature, found that a strong dose of psilocybin (25 milligrams) causes profound and widespread synchronization disturbances in the brain, specifically affecting the connectivity between the anterior hippocampus and the default mode network.
- In the study, repeated brain scans revealed that these disruptions mostly receded within days but some changes could still be observed weeks later, suggesting a potential long-term impact of psilocybin on brain activity.
- With the growing interest in technology and psychology, Joshua Seigel, a neuroimaging expert, aims to use the insights gained from research on psilocybin to create a roadmap for testing new psychedelic substances, focusing on those designed to evade the more mind-altering effects, thereby ensuring their safety and efficacy in treating mental health issues.
