What Does Psilocybin Do to the Brain?

In recent years, psilocybin—a naturally occurring psychedelic compound present in over 200 types of magic mushrooms—has drawn greater interest from scientists due to its effects on the brain.

Researchers studying the substance believe it has the potential to treat many mental health disorders ¹, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorder, and more.

In this blog post, we’ll look at the findings of research on psilocybin’s impact on the brain and their possible uses in improving the treatment of mental illness.

3 Ways Psilocybin Affects the Brain?

1. Psilocybin Stimulates Serotonin 

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a neurotransmitter that facilitates the flow of information between different parts of the brain.

Because its levels, when they’re normal, make you feel calmer, happier, emotionally stable, and more focused, serotonin is also referred to as the body’s natural “feel-good” hormone. Furthermore, it is essential for regulating bodily processes like digestion, sexual desire, and sleep.

It’s widely held that individuals suffering from depression, smoking addiction, PTSD, anxiety, anorexia, and other medical conditions have a serotonin deficiency ².

After consuming psilocybin, it’s converted into psilocin, which is what causes its psychoactive effects, including profound changes to behavior, awareness, perception, motor function, consciousness, and mood.

Studies ³ show psilocin binds to serotonin receptors, specifically the 5-HT2A receptor, to cause these effects on the brain. Serotonin activity rises due to this interaction, modifying mood, perception, and cognition.

This discovery, according to researchers, paves the way for the development of novel antidepressants, anxiety medications, and therapies for substance use disorders.

2. Psilocybin Disrupts the Default Mode Network (DMN)

The default mode network is a collection of brain areas that appear to be more active when you’re awake, and your thoughts are roaming and less active when you’re focused on a specific mental task, like finishing an assignment.

According to recent studies, the DMN can become hyperactive in persons with mental health issues – including anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression ⁴. This can result in rigid thought patterns and distressing thought loops where a person can’t stop being worried or break free from unhealthy thoughts.

It is yet to be fully understood how, but psilocybin intake causes a considerable drop in default mode network activity and an increase in the rest of the brain connectivity.

Researchers believe this may be one of the reasons depression and anxiety levels seem to reduce following psilocybin-assisted therapy.

In one study, ⁵ psilocybin-assisted therapy significantly lowered the depression scores of 12 patients suffering from severe depression, and the results lasted for up to three months.

According to a follow-up study, ⁶ psilocybin’s therapeutic effects were due to its capacity to “reset” the DMN—that is, to switch it off and reconsolidate it in a less inflexible manner than before.

3. Psilocybin Promotes Neuroplasticity

The body of research supporting psilocybin’s major influence on neuroplasticity is mounting.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to rewire itself and alter how brain cells operate. This ability enables us to develop resilience, make new decisions, change negative thought patterns with positive ones, heal from anxiety, depression, drug addiction, and alcoholism, and even dull pain.

For example, animal studies ⁷ using psilocybin have shown long-lasting changes in the prefrontal cortex structure, a part of the brain that is essential in generating and regulating emotion, decision-making, and maintaining self-awareness.

To fully understand psilocybin’s effects on the brain and its prospective therapeutic advantages, more research is required. As our knowledge of this drug advances, it could revolutionize the way we treat mental health issues.

Important Disclaimer: According to US federal law, psilocybin is currently categorized as a Schedule I substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medicinal value as of yet. This blog article does not represent medical advice; It’s simply meant to be informative.

Sources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6007659/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4471964/
3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-019-0324-9#Sec11
4. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0091102
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27210031/
6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320373653_Psilocybin_for_treatment-resistant_depression_FMRI-measured_brain_mechanisms
7. https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12868-023-00809-0