Scientists Have Been Studying Magic Mushrooms for Years Without Fully Understanding How They Worked. Until Now

Among the mushrooms with hallucinogenic or psychoactive effects, those of the genus Psilocybe are perhaps the best known. People have been using these mushrooms as a recreational or ritual substance for millennia, but in recent years, they’ve become the subject of study in the fields of neurobiology and mental health.

Dissolving the network. A recent study published in Nature revealed new information about how psilocybin affects our brains. According to the research team, this substance alters the structure of one of the most important brain networks, “dissolving” it.

The brain network in question is responsible for introspective thinking, daydreaming, and the act of remembering. This aligns with the concept of “ego dissolution” often associated with the consumption of this type of psychoactive substance, noted Joshua Siegel, co-author of the study.

Psilocybin. Psilocybin is an alkaloid substance found in various species of the genus Psilocybe. When we consume this substance, our bodies metabolize it into psilocin, which is the molecule responsible for generating psychedelic effects.

First, it binds to neuroreceptors like 5HT2a, a serotonin receptor. The study of this substance in the mid-20th century led to the synthesis of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). In recent years, scientific research into psilocybin has increased, especially in the field of mental health as a therapeutic form.

The “default” mode. However, beyond this interaction with neuroreceptors, scientists have very little understanding of the psychedelic process in the human brain. A new study has shed light on the matter by investigating the brain desynchronization that, as the team explains, could underpin the antidepressant effects of these substances.

The results demonstrated a profound and widespread, although not permanent, change in the brain’s functional networks, particularly in the so-called “default network.” This network comprises areas of the brain that are activated simultaneously when our mind isn’t focused on a specific activity.

The study found that the network was deactivated and then re-established itself after the effects of the substances wore off. The researchers believe that this “reconnection” could result in new, healthier, and more dynamic connections, ultimately contributing to an improvement in our health.

Functional mapping. Researchers used functional mapping to study the effects of two substances, psilocybin and methylphenidate, on the brain. Seven healthy adult participants took part in the analysis. Psilocybin was the active compound, while methylphenidate served as the control, as it has stimulant but not psychedelic effects.

The team administered both substances in a controlled environment to minimize the risk of adverse effects. They scanned the participants’ brains using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) an average of 18 times: before, during, and after the respective doses.

Temporary effect. The “dissolving” effect was temporary, but some effects remained over time for at least the three weeks of the study. “There’s a massive effect initally, and when it’s gone, a pinpoint effect remains,” Nico Dosenbach, a professor of neurology and study co-author, explained in a press release.

“That’s exactly what you’d want to see for a potential medicine. You wouldn’t want people’s brain networks to be obliterated for days, but you also wouldn’t want everything to snap back to the way it was immediately. You want an effect that lasts long enough to make a difference,” he added.

New therapeutic hope. The debate over the usefulness of certain drugs previously considered purely recreational in the mental health field isn’t new. However, it’s gaining traction in study after study. Yet, new studies will still be needed to better understand their applications. The human brain is the most complex organ, so understanding all these details may be beyond our reach. Even so, the therapeutic potential appears to be clear.

This article was written by Pablo Martínez-Juarez and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | Sara Moser | Hans-Günter Wagner

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