Psilocybin

Clinical trials show psilocybin provides rapid relief for depression, but the underlying biology remains unclear. New research demonstrates how varying doses of the drug bind to serotonin receptors to enhance cellular flexibility.

New research suggests that psilocybin shifts the brain from a relaxed state into a highly engaged pattern of rapid electrical activity. This measurable shift in brain waves provides evidence linking biological changes directly to subjective psychedelic experiences.

Published in Scientific Reports, new research provides evidence that minor compounds in psychedelic mushrooms work alongside psilocybin to interact with brain receptors. This chemical teamwork explains why whole mushroom extracts often affect people differently than isolated, lab-made psilocybin.

A new mouse study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology provides evidence that psilocybin selectively enhances the brain's ability to rewire itself. The research suggests that optimizing specific doses could help tailor treatments for different psychiatric symptoms.

Chronic microdosing of psilocybin could fight obesity and diabetes without the "trip." Researchers discovered that non-hallucinogenic doses reduced weight gain and restored insulin sensitivity in mice by targeting specific receptors in the liver.

Psilocybin’s effects are not uniform across different physiological conditions. A study of female mice reveals that exercise and diet drastically alter how the drug influences social interactions and inflammatory signaling.

Researchers found that a single dose of psilocybin alters the electrical properties of brain cells for months. This functional plasticity, rather than structural growth, may explain why psychedelic therapy offers enduring relief from depression.

Taking tiny amounts of psilocybin helps the brain bypass conventional associations to reach more original solutions, according to a robust analysis of three double-blind clinical trials.

A new analysis of clinical trial data indicates that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy provides immediate relief for anxiety and depression in advanced cancer patients, though the antidepressant effects may not persist without specific dosing strategies.

A moderate dose of psilocybin may offer temporary relief for obsessive-compulsive disorder, according to new research. The study indicates that the drug tends to reduce symptom severity for up to one week, specifically regarding compulsive behaviors.

Scientists have observed how psilocybin rewires the brain to overcome fear. The drug coordinates the silencing of trauma neurons and the activation of safety signals to promote behavioral flexibility in mice.

Nootropic gummies, marketed as mental enhancers, are sending consumers to the hospital with seizures and vomiting. An unregulated market means these products can contain undisclosed toxic mushrooms or other potent drugs, posing a serious public health risk.

A new study details how the psychedelic psilocin excites specific neurons in the prefrontal cortex. This finding helps explain how the compound may exert its potential therapeutic effects.

A treatment for depression involving just two doses of psilocybin may have effects that last for years. A new follow-up study found that two-thirds of participants were still in remission five years after their therapy, pointing to its potential durability.

Psilocybin therapy may reduce suicidal thoughts in people with mental health diagnoses, according to a new review in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. The analysis combined results from clinical trials and found a modest but significant reduction in suicidal ideation.