Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Psychopharmacology Psychedelic Drugs

A single high dose of psilocybin alters brain function up to one month later

by Eric W. Dolan
April 7, 2020
in Psychedelic Drugs
(Photo credit: Sebastian Kaulitzki)

(Photo credit: Sebastian Kaulitzki)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay on top of the latest psychology findings: Subscribe now!

New research provides evidence that the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms can affect brain processes related to emotional functioning long after the substance has left one’s body. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, shed new light on the long-term effects of psilocybin.

Rather than examining the brain while it’s under the influence of psilocybin, the researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine were interested in the enduring impact of the substance.

“Nearly all psychedelic imaging studies have been conducted during acute effects of psychedelic drugs. While acute effects of psychedelics on the brain are of course incredibly interesting, the enduring effects of psychedelic drugs on brain function have great untapped value in helping us to understand more about the brain, affect, and the treatment of psychiatric disorders,” said Frederick S. Barrett (@FredBarrettPhD), an assistant professor and the corresponding author of the study.

In the study, 12 volunteers received a single administration of a high dose of psilocybin. One day before, one week after, and one month after psilocybin administration, the volunteers completed three different tasks to assess the processing of emotional information (specifically, facial expressions) while the researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to record their brain activity. During these three sessions, the volunteers also completed various surveys about their emotional functioning.

The researchers found that self-reported emotional distress was reduced one week after psilocybin administration, but returned to baseline levels at one month after psilocybin administration. Barrett and his colleagues also observed decreases in amygdala responses to emotional information one week after psilocybin administration, but this also returned to normal at one month post-psilocybin.

In addition, the researchers found increases in resting-state functional connectivity, which measures how blood oxygen level-dependent signals are coordinated across the brain, at both one week and one month after psilocybin administration.

“A single high dose of psilocybin, administered to properly screened individuals in a carefully controlled setting, can have lasting positive effects on emotional functioning in healthy individuals. These effects were reflected in transient changes in the function of brain regions that support emotional processing,” Barrett told PsyPost.

Because of the small sample size and lack of a control group, however, the findings should be considered preliminary.

“This study needs to be replicated in a larger sample with proper experimental controls, and we need to determine whether psilocybin exerts the observed effects by directly acting on emotional brain circuits, or by acting on brain circuits that control attention and cognition that may have down-stream effects on emotional brain circuits,” Barrett explained.

The study, “Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin“, was authored by Frederick S. Barrett, Manoj K. Doss, Nathan D. Sepeda, James J. Pekar, and Roland R. Griffiths.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin4ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Little-known psychedelic found to have a fascinating effect on cognitive flexibility after just a single dose
Psychedelic Drugs

Fascinating new advances in psychedelic science reveal how they may heal the mind

July 9, 2025

A series of recent studies has begun to map the specific neural, cognitive, and emotional processes that psychedelics influence—often in ways that challenge long-held assumptions

Read moreDetails
Use of mescaline may facilitate unintended improvements in several psychiatric conditions, study suggests
Ayahuasca

Many ayahuasca users report challenging experiences—yet some are linked to better mental health

July 4, 2025

Are challenging ayahuasca experiences always harmful? Not necessarily, finds a new global survey. While some effects predict poorer mental health, others like visual distortions are linked to positive outcomes, highlighting the crucial role of context and individual vulnerability.

Read moreDetails
Psychedelic compound blurs boundary between self and others in the brain, study finds
Ayahuasca

Psychedelic compound blurs boundary between self and others in the brain, study finds

July 2, 2025

A recent study found that a DMT/harmine formulation blurs the brain’s distinction between self and other faces, disrupting self-referential processing while preserving recognition of familiar faces, suggesting a neural basis for psychedelic-induced ego dissolution.

Read moreDetails
Researchers identify neural mechanism behind memory prioritization
MDMA

New study reveals how MDMA rewires serotonin and oxytocin systems in the brain

June 30, 2025

Researchers found that MDMA reduces anxiety and enhances social behavior in zebrafish by altering key neurochemical systems. The drug suppressed serotonin signaling, boosted oxytocin receptor expression, and modulated brain signaling proteins involved in emotional regulation.

Read moreDetails
Regular psychedelic users exhibit different brain responses to self-related thoughts, study finds
Neuroimaging

Regular psychedelic users exhibit different brain responses to self-related thoughts, study finds

June 28, 2025

A new study suggests that regular users of psychedelics may process self-related thoughts differently at both psychological and brain levels, revealing altered patterns of brain activity during self-reflection compared to non-users who intend to try psychedelics.

Read moreDetails
Psychedelic use linked to increased risk of unusual visual experiences
Ayahuasca

Study links moderate awe in psychedelic ayahuasca journeys to better well-being

June 21, 2025

A new study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs suggests that while awe can be transformative during ayahuasca retreats, there’s a limit. Experiences marked by excessive vastness were linked to lower well-being, challenging assumptions about awe’s universal benefits.

Read moreDetails
About 8% of psychedelic users report inappropriate sexual contact by guides
Psychedelic Drugs

Study links psychedelic use in illegal settings to increased psychotic and manic symptoms

June 18, 2025

New research suggests that naturalistic psychedelic use may worsen psychotic and manic symptoms when used in illegal settings. People with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder appeared especially vulnerable to these effects, highlighting the importance of context and psychiatric background.

Read moreDetails
Some dark personality traits may help buffer against depression, new psychology research suggests
Mental Health

Psilocybin-assisted therapy linked to reduced depression in people with bipolar disorder, small study finds

June 17, 2025

A pilot study involving psilocybin-assisted therapy found possible antidepressant effects for people with bipolar II disorder. The treatment appeared well-tolerated, with no signs of mania or psychosis, offering cautious optimism for future bipolar depression research.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Adults treated with psychostimulants for ADHD show increased brain surface complexity, study finds

Is humor inherited? Twin study suggests the ability to be funny may not run in the family

Scientists discover weak Dems have highest testosterone — but there’s an intriguing twist

Can sunshine make you happier? A massive study offers a surprising answer

New study links why people use pornography to day-to-day couple behavior

Virtual reality meditation eases caregiver anxiety during pediatric hospital stays, with stronger benefits for Spanish speakers

Fascinating new advances in psychedelic science reveal how they may heal the mind

Dysfunction within the sensory processing cortex of the brain is associated with insomnia, study finds

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy