Magic mushrooms may reshape the brain long after the trip ends
Researchers at UCSF and Imperial College London found that a single dose of psilocybin induces lasting changes in brain entropy, which correlates with improved mental well-being. These findings suggest that the 'psyche-revealing' nature of the psychedelic experience is central to its therapeutic potential.
Why it matters
This provides a biological mechanism for how psychedelic-assisted therapy may effectively treat depression, anxiety, and addiction.
A single dose of psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in magic mushrooms, may produce physical changes in the brain that remain detectable for as long as a month, according to researchers at UC San Francisco and Imperial College London.
The study, published in Nature Communications , involved healthy adults who had never previously used a psychedelic. Although none of the participants had a diagnosed mental health condition, the findings may offer clues about why psilocybin has shown therapeutic potential for depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Researchers focused on temporary increases in brain "entropy," a term describing the variety and unpredictability of neural activity. Their results suggest that this more diverse pattern of brain activity may promote psychological insight and that the psychedelic experience itself could play an important role in psilocybin's longer-term effects.
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