Human brain changes after first psilocybin use

May 5, 2026Nature communications

Brain changes in people after their first use of psilocybin

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Abstract

In a study involving 28 healthy participants, anatomical and functional brain changes were detected one hour to one month after a single high dose of 25 mg psilocybin.

  • Cognitive flexibility, psychological insight, and well-being showed increases at one month following psilocybin administration.
  • Decreased axial diffusivity in prefrontal-subcortical tracts was observed one month post-dosing, correlating with reduced brain network modularity.
  • Enduring functional brain changes were largely absent, but a numerical decrease in network modularity negatively correlated with significant increases in well-being.
  • Increased cortical signal entropy measured at 1- and 2-hours post-dosing predicted improved psychological well-being at one month.
  • Next-day psychological insight was found to mediate the relationship between entropy and well-being.

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Full Text

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