Psilocybin

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.

In a pilot study, physicians and nurses who took part in mindfulness training combined with psilocybin therapy experienced greater reductions in depression symptoms than those who practiced mindfulness alone, offering preliminary evidence for a new approach to burnout treatment.

A small pilot study found that a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin led to lasting reductions in depression symptoms among U.S. military veterans with treatment-resistant depression. Half were in remission after six months; 30% remained in remission at one...

A groundbreaking study has revealed that classical psychedelics affect far more than just serotonin. By mapping how 41 compounds interact with brain receptors, researchers challenge long-held assumptions and open new directions for psychedelic science and therapeutic development.

Cancer patients with major depression experienced significant and long-lasting improvements after just one psilocybin session, according to new research. Two years later, many showed continued reductions in depression and anxiety, with some requiring no further treatment or medication.

Psilocybin and MDMA may do more than alter perception. A study in Nature suggests they also reduce fear by targeting a newly identified immune-brain signaling loop, which becomes hyperactive under chronic stress and contributes to heightened fear responses.

A groundbreaking study has found that psilocybin can profoundly affect religious leaders, enhancing their spiritual lives and emotional well-being. Six months after two guided sessions, clergy from major world religions reported lasting positive changes in faith, mood, and leadership effectiveness.

Scientists have discovered that psilocybin may have powerful anti-aging properties. New research provides the first experimental evidence that the compound from psychedelic mushrooms extends survival in aged mice and significantly delays the natural aging process in human cells.

Researchers have discovered that psilocybin—but not ketamine—triggers widespread changes in neuropeptide-related genes in the rat hypothalamus. These findings may help explain how psychedelics influence mood, appetite, and stress responses through deep brain systems.

People under the influence of psilocybin perform more slowly on tasks measuring attention and executive function. But a new study suggests the problem might not be the drug—it might be the traditional lab tests used to assess cognition.

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.

Early results from a pilot study indicate that psilocybin-assisted therapy could be linked to lower alcohol consumption and improved psychological outcomes, though larger controlled trials are needed to determine whether the psilocybin itself is responsible for these changes.

A new study using high-resolution EEG reveals that psilocybin dramatically alters brain connectivity in rats. The psychedelic induced dose-dependent changes in network organization, disrupting normal patterns of neural communication and suggesting rodents may be viable models for studying altered consciousness.