New research provides evidence that a single psilocybin dose can result in long-term increases in mindfulness

Even in the absence of explicit mindfulness training. The study, published in European Neuropsychopharmacology, suggests that these changes in mindfulness are related to changes in the serotonin 2A receptor, one of the 14 serotonin receptors in the brain.

Psilocybin is a powerful psychedelic drug and the active ingredient in so-called “magic mushrooms.”

“Psilocybin is being intensely studied by both the pharmaceutical industry and academic institutions, and most published studies suggest that psilocybin therapy may be very beneficial for a number of psychiatric disorders,” said Martin Korsbak Madsen, the corresponding author of the study and a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen.

“Our Neurobiology Research unit has for years been at the forefront of mapping the brain’s serotonin system using positron emission tomography (PET) brain imaging. Now, psilocybin acts by stimulating the brain’s serotonin 2A receptors, and since we developed a very good serotonin 2A PET imaging radiotracer in our lab, the need to understand if psilocybin affect the serotonin 2A receptors in the brain converged nicely with our PET imaging expertise.”

Ten healthy volunteers without prior experience with psychedelic drugs completed assessments of mindfulness, personality, and other factors before undergoing a neuroimaging session. On another day, the volunteers received a dose of psilocybin and then listened to a standardized music playlist. Eight of the ten volunteers had a “complete mystical experience” based on the Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire.

One week later, the volunteers again underwent neuroimaging and, three months later, the volunteers again completed assessments of mindfulness, personality, and other long-term effects.

The volunteers also reported that the psilocybin session had resulted in long-term enhancements in mood, spirituality and outlook on life.

Read the full article at PsyPost