Mood & Mental Health

·

Study

Psilocybin's Mood Benefits May Be Separable From the Trip

Psilocybin's Mood Benefits May Be Separable From the Trip

Psilocybin mushrooms

What they found

Cornell researchers found psilocybin's antidepressant effect in mice comes from specific frontal cortex neurons, separate from hallucination areas.

Cornell researchers found psilocybin's antidepressant effect in mice comes from specific frontal cortex neurons, separate from hallucination areas.

How solid is it?

Animal

Animal

Animal

Animal

Evidence ladder: Lab dish → Animal → Early human → Strong human. Reviews summarize earlier research.

At a glance

Latin name

Compound

psilocybin

psilocybin

Published in

Nature

Nature

Covered in Shroom Scan

Section

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

As it ran in Shroom Scan

Trip-Free Therapy

Trip-Free Therapy

Cornell researchers found that psilocybin’s antidepressant effects come from activating pyramidal tract neurons in the medial frontal cortex through serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Silencing these neurons in mice removed the therapeutic response, while the hallucinogenic effects appear to stem from other areas like the visual cortex. These findings suggest it may be possible to deliver psilocybin in a way that retains the mood-lifting benefits without triggering a psychedelic experience.

Cornell researchers found that psilocybin’s antidepressant effects come from activating pyramidal tract neurons in the medial frontal cortex through serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Silencing these neurons in mice removed the therapeutic response, while the hallucinogenic effects appear to stem from other areas like the visual cortex. These findings suggest it may be possible to deliver psilocybin in a way that retains the mood-lifting benefits without triggering a psychedelic experience.

Faster Thinking, Safer Cordyceps, and a Psilocybin Milestone

Read the original study ↗

Get Shroom Scan

Next study

Whole Magic Mushroom Extract Beats Pure Psilocybin in OCD-like Mice ›

Shroom Scan · Every Friday

Get Studies Like This, Translated, Every Week

Ten new studies a week, each boiled down to what it found and why it matters to you. Free, and one click to leave.

See what's inside →