What Effects Do Magic Mushrooms Have On The Brain?

Magic mushrooms, a type of psychedelic drug, have been found to have a significant impact on the brain. A study involving nine participants found that the psychedelic compound psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, can temporarily “open up” depressed people’s brains even weeks after use. The study focuses on the effects of psilocybin on brain regions associated with the default-mode network (DMN), particularly the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.

The study suggests that psilocybin may increase emotional and brain plasticity, and that negative affect may be a factor in these effects. Psilocybin temporarily resets entire networks of neurons in the brain responsible for controlling a person’s sense of self. However, leading mycologist Paul Stamets believes that it’s time for fans of psilocybin mushrooms to leave the childish slang behind.

Acute psilocybin effects include reduced negative mood, increased positive mood, and reduced amygdala response to negative affective stimuli. The psychedelic drugs LSD and psilocybin activate serotonin receptors on brain cells, reducing the energy needed for the brain to switch between states. These changes were driven by desynchronization of brain activity across spatial scales, which was driven by psilocybin-driven desynchronization.

Psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin, which is being studied as a potential treatment for various mental health conditions. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report that psilocybin destabilizes a critical network of brain areas involved in introspective thinking. The study also sheds light on how the psychedelic compound in the drug can distort the sense of space, time, and self during a trip.