Human brain changes after first psilocybin use

Lyons, T.; Spriggs, M.; Kerkela, L.; Rosas, F.; Roseman, L.; Timmermann, C.; Oestreich, L.; Pagni, B.; Zeifman, R.; Hampshire, A.; Trender, W.; Douglas, H.; Girn, M.; Godfrey, K.; Kettner, H.; Sharif, F.; Espasiano, L.; Gazzaley, A.; Wall, M.; Erritzoe, D.; Nutt, D.; Carhart-Harris, R.

doi:10.1101/2024.10.11.617955

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2024.10.11.617955

Human brain changes after first psilocybin use

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Abstract

Psychedelics have robust effects on acute brain function and long-term behavior but whether they also cause enduring functional and anatomical brain changes is unknown. In a placebo-controlled, within-subjects, electroencephalography, and magnetic resonance imaging study in 28 healthy, entirely psychedelic-naive participants, anatomical and functional brain changes were detected from one-hour to one-month after a single high-dose (25 mg) of psilocybin. Increases in cognitive flexibility, psychological insight, and well-being were seen at one-month. Diffusion imaging done before and one-month after 25mg psilocybin revealed decreased axial diffusivity bilaterally in prefrontal-subcortical tracts that correlated with decreased brain network modularity over the same time period. Decreased modularity also correlated with improved well-being. Increased cortical signal entropy at 1- and 2-hours post-dosing predicted improved psychological well-being at one-month. Next-day psychological insight mediated the entropy to well-being relationship. All effects were exclusive to 25mg psilocybin; no effects occurred with a 1mg psilocybin placebo dose.

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Lyons, T., Spriggs, M., Kerkela, L., Rosas, F., Roseman, L., Timmermann, C., Oestreich, L., Pagni, B., Zeifman, R., Hampshire, A., Trender, W., Douglas, H., Girn, M., Godfrey, K., Kettner, H., Sharif, F., Espasiano, L., Gazzaley, A., Wall, M., Erritzoe, D., Nutt, D., Carhart-Harris, R.. 2024-10-14. Human brain changes after first psilocybin use. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.11.617955

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