How the brain keeps growing
Shao et al. · 2021
Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivoNeuron
In mice, a single dose grew new dendritic spines within a day, and many were still there a month later.
UC Santa Cruz · 2026
Psilocybin reshapes brain connections through distinct cellular pathwaysNature Neuroscience, as reported by News-Medical
In mice, psilocybin sped up the birth and maturing of new connections, and cleared away some old ones.
Ly et al. · 2018
Psychedelics promote structural and functional neural plasticityCell Reports
In nerve cells, flies and rats, psychedelics helped neurons grow new branches, spines and connections.
Moliner et al. · 2023
Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkBNature Neuroscience
One way it may happen: LSD and psilocin, the active form of psilocybin, bind directly to the receptor for BDNF, the brain’s own growth signal.
On the microdose
Szigeti et al. · 2021
Self-blinding citizen science to explore psychedelic microdosingeLife
People microdosed without knowing which capsules were real. Mood and wellbeing improved, and improved about as much on the placebo: what we bring to it matters.
Polito & Stevenson · 2019
A systematic study of microdosing psychedelicsPLOS ONE
Ninety-eight people kept notes through six weeks of microdosing, and reported less depression and stress, and less mind-wandering.
Rootman et al. · 2021
Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosersScientific Reports
More than 8,000 adults: those who microdose reported less anxiety and depression, and many named their health as the reason.
Rootman et al. · 2022
Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controlsScientific Reports
Over about a month, psilocybin microdosers improved more in mood and mental health than people who did not microdose.
Cavanna et al. · 2022
Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled studyTranslational Psychiatry
A careful double-blind trial: on most measures, people felt little difference between the microdose and a placebo.
Your yes is part of the medicine
Haijen et al. · 2018
Predicting responses to psychedelics: a prospective studyFrontiers in Pharmacology
Hundreds of people, asked before and after: those who went in with clear intentions and an open mind tended to have the more meaningful experiences, and greater wellbeing afterwards.
The deeper journeys
Griffiths et al. · 2016
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancerJournal of Psychopharmacology
Fifty-one people facing cancer: a single high dose eased depression and anxiety, and for about four in five the relief held six months later.
Davis et al. · 2021
Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorderJAMA Psychiatry
Twenty-four adults with depression: two guided sessions brought rapid, large relief.
Carhart-Harris et al. · 2021
Trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depressionNew England Journal of Medicine
Psilocybin side by side with a common antidepressant for six weeks: alike on the main measure, with several others leaning toward psilocybin.
Goodwin et al. · 2022
Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depressionNew England Journal of Medicine
233 people with hard-to-treat depression: one 25 mg dose, with support, eased it more than a tiny dose did at three weeks.
Places to keep learning
- Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
Where several of the studies above were done.
- Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research, London
The world’s first centre dedicated to psychedelic research.
- How to Change Your Mind, by Michael Pollan
A book: the history and the science, told by a curious writer.