Overview
- Researchers from UCSF and Imperial College London studied 28 adults with no prior psychedelic use using a 1 mg control session followed a month later by a supervised 25 mg psilocybin session with eye masks and music.
- EEG readings during the high dose showed higher brain entropy, a sign of more varied brain activity, and larger increases tracked with greater psychological insight the next day and better well-being weeks later.
- MRI with diffusion imaging one month after the session showed changes in white-matter pathways that carry signals between brain regions, which the team views as possible signs of neuroplasticity.
- Volunteers reported improved mood, stronger emotional awareness, and more flexible thinking that helped them cope better for several weeks after the experience.
- Outside experts praised the careful design but stressed the results are preliminary due to the small sample and short follow-up, calling for larger, longer trials before clinical adoption or policy shifts.