Psilocybin may reshape brain activity and support mental health, study finds

• Researchers at UC San Francisco conducted a study on the psychedelic psilocybin to find out what kind of long-term physiological impacts it can have on the brain.
• They gave the participants their first-ever high dose of the psychedelic and compared brain scans taken before, during, and after the large dose.
• The scientists linked the psilocybin dose to changes in brain activity, structure, and mental well-being.

A new study suggests a single high dose of psilocybin may trigger brain changes that persist for weeks after the experience.

The exploratory study found that the psychedelic, which is found in “magic mushrooms,” may not only alter brain activity but may also improve mood, insight, and thinking flexibility over time.

While the study was limited in its participant pool size, the findings add to research that examines how psilocybin could potentially support mental health.

The study is published in Nature Communications.