Psilocybin Shown to Help the Brain Recover from Stress
Psilocybin, a compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms” that induces psychedelic states, has been shown to rapidly stimulate the growth of neural connections lost due to stress. Psilocybin is an alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic with untapped therapeutic potential, known for causing euphoria, altered sensations, and visual and auditory hallucinations. In nature, it is primarily found in mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus, and in smaller amounts in mushrooms of the genera Panaeolus, Stropharia, Gymnopilus, Inocybe, and others.
According to the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, psilocybin is a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it is considered highly likely to be abused and not intended for legitimate medical use.
Psilocybin activates serotonin receptors, most often in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for mood, cognition, and perception. Hallucinogens also affect other brain regions that regulate arousal and panic responses. Once psilocybin enters the digestive system, the body converts it into psilocin, a psychoactive tryptamine alkaloid. The hallucinogenic effects usually appear within 30 minutes of ingestion and last for four to six hours. In some people, changes in sensory perception and thinking can persist for several days.
Historical and Medical Context
Ritual use of psilocybin for mystical or spiritual purposes dates back to pre-Columbian Mesoamerican societies and continues today. However, most people use this drug recreationally or in search of a “transcendent spiritual experience.”
In 2006, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research published a study on the safety and positive effects of psilocybin. Medical professionals have also tested the compound for treating cluster headaches, anxiety caused by late-stage cancer, depression, and other anxiety disorders. While some scientists have questioned its effectiveness and safety as a therapeutic agent, psilocybin continues to be studied in the context of depression treatment. However, its exact mechanism and the duration of its positive effects remain unclear.
New Research: How Psilocybin Repairs the Brain
Researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine (USA) used laser scanning microscopy to show that a single dose of psilocybin given to stressed mice caused immediate and long-lasting strengthening of connections between neurons. This structural remodeling happened quickly, within 24 hours, and persisted for a month. In addition, the compound reversed stress-related behavioral deficits and increased neurotransmitter activity. These findings were published in the journal Neuron.
It turns out that psilocybin increases the density of dendritic spines—small protrusions on nerve cells that help transmit information between neurons. Chronic stress and depression, on the other hand, reduce the number of these neural connections.
“We not only saw a 10% increase in the number of neural connections—they were also about 10% larger on average, making them stronger,” emphasized Alex Kwan, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience.
Safety and Legal Considerations
It is important to remember that psilocybin remains an unsafe and illegal drug, although it is believed not to cause addiction. Overdose can be accompanied by agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, panic or paranoia, psychosis, seizures, confusion, and in severe cases—coma.