Psilocybin temporarily resets neurons responsible for controlling sense of time and self
Researchers discovered psilocybin's impact on human brain through functional MRI scans
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Harvard School of Medicine in Boston have discovered that psilocybin, the compound found in magic mushrooms, has a profound impact on the human brain. The small-scale studies involved giving participants psilocybin before undergoing functional MRI scans to observe significant departures from normal activity patterns in their brains. These changes were reflected through a heat map of colors, with red, orange, and yellow hues indicating the departure from regular brain activity.
The researchers found that psilocybin temporarily resets entire networks of neurons responsible for controlling a person's sense of time and self. The effects on the brain lasted for hours to weeks, specifically disrupting the communication between the default mode network and anterior hippocampus for weeks. This disruption could offer insights into why psilocybin might have a therapeutic effect on some neurological conditions such as PTSD and depression.
These findings build upon previous research conducted by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, which demonstrated that psilocybin can alter neuronal communication in 5-HT2A-rich regions like the medial frontal lobe and induce persistent plasticity-related phenomena. Together, these studies suggest that psychedelics should induce potent acute and persistent neurobiological changes.
While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of psilocybin on the brain, these groundbreaking studies offer a promising avenue for exploring new treatments for neurological conditions. However, it's crucial to note that further extensive research is required before any conclusions can be drawn about the potential therapeutic applications of psilocybin.
A single high dose of psilocybin (25mg) can induce powerful changes in perception of self, time and space by agonizing the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor.
Psilocybin has demonstrated rapid and sustained symptom relief in depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety in clinical trials.
Activation of the 5-HT2A receptors by a psychedelic can alter neuronal communication in regions like the medial frontal lobe and induce persistent plasticity-related phenomena.
Synaptogenesis in the medial frontal lobe and anterior hippocampus is thought to be key to the neurotrophic antidepressant effects of psilocybin.
During the roughly 6-hour duration of action, psilocybin increases glutamate signalling and glucose metabolism, decreases power of electrophysiological signals, reduces hemodynamic fluctuations, and decreases segregation between functional networks.
Accuracy
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex and anterior and middle hippocampus are functionally connected to the default mode network (DMN).
Increased functional connectivity (FC) between the hippocampus and DMN has been associated with depression symptoms, while decreased FC is associated with treatment.
A small study was conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis where participants were given psilocybin before undergoing a functional M.R.I scan.
The brain scans produced by the researchers revealed significant departures from normal activity patterns, with red, orange and yellow hues reflecting these changes.
Accuracy
The study could potentially provide a roadmap for understanding how psychedelic compounds like psilocybin can lead to relief from mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Study finds that psilocybin, a compound in magic mushrooms, temporarily resets networks of neurons responsible for controlling sense of time and self.
Changes in brain-network patterns were so significant that some participants' brains resembled those of different people.
Effects on the brain lasted for hours to weeks, specifically the communication between default mode network and anterior hippocampus was disrupted for weeks.
Accuracy
Groups of neurons that normally fire together became desynchronized, specifically in the default mode network which is active during wakeful rest.
Deception
(30%)
The article makes several statements that imply facts without providing peer-reviewed studies to back them up. For example, the statement 'These findings, published in Nature on 17 July1, could offer insights into why the compound might have a therapeutic effect on some neurological conditions.' and 'Despite promising data that have sped treatments towards approval, researchers still don’t fully understand the mechanism that underlies their therapeutic effects.' do not provide any references or studies to support these claims. Additionally, the article uses emotional manipulation by describing the brain changes as 'massive' and 'huge', which is an attempt to elicit an emotional response from readers.
Despite promising data that have sped treatments towards approval, researchers still don’t fully understand the mechanism that underlies their therapeutic effects.
These findings, published in Nature on 17 July1, could offer insights into why the compound might have a therapeutic effect on some neurological conditions.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains some inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority without directly attributing fallacies to the author. The author reports on a study that found psilocybin temporarily resets entire networks of neurons in the brain responsible for controlling a person's sense of time and self. This is presented as an explanation for why psilocybin might have therapeutic effects on some neurological conditions, without committing the author to this view. The inflammatory language comes from phrases such as 'reset entire networks of neurons', 'ressemble those of a different person entirely', and descriptions of the effects as'massive'. The appeal to authority comes from quoting other researchers who were impressed by the study's findings. No formal fallacies appear to be present in the author's statements.
Taking psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms, temporarily resets entire networks of neurons...
Researchers “saw such massive changes induced by psilocybin” that some study participants’ brain-network patterns resembled those of a different person entirely...
Psilocybin is one of several psychedelic drugs... being investigated as therapies for conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
