Heat map of brain activity patterns shows profound disturbance during an individual’s experience after taking psilocybin. Photo: Washington School of Medicine
The effects of psilocybin - the active compound in magic mushrooms - have been illuminated in a new Washington University School of Medicine study.
For the study, seven people were given doses of the psychedelic drug, and then had their brains scanned by MRI. The resulting heat map showed the drug desynchronizing certain brain networks, potentially enhancing its plasticity. This work adds to efforts to harness psilocybin's potential to treat mental illness.
Dr Nico Dosenbach, an expert in brain imaging, was part of the study and joins the show to tell us more.
