Single dose of magic mushroom psychedelic can cause anatomical brain changes, study finds

[highplainsdem]

Source: Guardian

A single dose of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can induce anatomical changes in the brain, according to research among people who took the psychedelic compound for the first time.

Scientists spotted apparent changes in the brain’s structure which were still apparent a month after healthy volunteers took the drug. If confirmed, they may help explain the therapeutic effects that psychedelics can have on anxiety, depression and addiction, researchers said.

Evidence for the changes came from specialised scans that measured the diffusion of water along nerve bundles in the brain. They suggested that some nerve tracts had become denser and more robust after the drug was taken. While the findings are preliminary, the scientists said the opposite was seen in ageing and dementia.

“It’s remarkable to see potential anatomical brain changes one month after a single dose of any drug,” said Prof Robin Carhart-Harris, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and senior author on the study. “We don’t yet know what these changes mean, but we do note that overall, people showed positive psychological changes in this study, including improved wellbeing and mental flexibility.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/05/magic-mushrooms-psychedelic-changes-brain-anatomy-psilocybin

[Moostache]

1. While undoubtedly real, I fear what Pharma would do with fully-funded research on this...

Huxley's "Brave New World" featured "Soma"... in our current anything-for-a-buck culture, they would immediately begin researching how to turn psychedelics into control mechanisms for the general population.

If they got lucky and hijacked the pathway of these changes at the biochemical and metabolic pathway levels (i.e. identifying and manipulating the enzymes and proteins that cause these effects), then the capitalist dream of a workforce just smart enough to push the buttons and just stoned enough to no longer care that they are being used like tools could actually be made reality.

Quite frankly, I would not be one bit shocked if that research is not already being funded by the likes of Bezos, Zuckerberg and Musk.

[Ponietz]

3. This will indeed be interesting

Psychedelics teach us to change ourselves and reject the plastic world. You’re talking about something that will make patients embrace the plastic world. The billionaires might not like this particular genie once it’s released from its bottle. On the other hand, if they can manipulate and enslave psychedelics to their purposes the future is bleak.

[Maru Kitteh]

10. They no longer need button-pushers, having birthed a new genre of entities

to do that. Robots do not show up for work late because they had to take their disease-ridden kids to overpriced day cares, robbing poor, innocent billionaire global oligarchs of their full daily quota of prostration and industry when surely the poor, innocent billionaire global oligarchs have only our best interests in mind.





yeah for anyone wondering - the above contains indigo-deep sarcasm.

[stopdiggin]

2. so can a quart of vodka

Being a smart arse of course. Nothing wrong with taking a look at potential benefits - and it does seem like there is real potential. (with certain actual, and defined, targets) The only caveat I would offer - is I would much prefer if any endorsements or advocation came to us by way of real medicine and therapy - rather than the pseudo-science and self medication/home remedy crowd.

[Wicked Blue]

4. Gimme that good ol'-fashioned LSD

[pat_k]

5. "nerve tracts had become denser and more robust...the opposite of what was in ageing and dementia"

When added to the fact that a couple trials with mushrooms help major depression and anxiety disorders, sounds pretty good to me!!

Seems like the headline would be better as "Single dose of magic mushroom psychedelic can cause positive anatomical brain changes, study finds"

I think the assumption is that changes in the brain are not a good thing, so if you just read "drug x causes anatomical brain changes" the thought is "uh oh."

[Picaro]

6. Wonder if similar changes occur with other psychedelics?

I did mushrooms a number of times. I did acid countless times.

I felt like LSD and psilocybin had a positive impact on me, but that was purely subjective. Now there may be objective evidence?

I look forward to hearing more about this.

[GenThePerservering]

7. Both opened my eyes to a world beyond my own boundaries

After I took LSD, the world exploded in colour - basically, I saw what I hadn't seen before - it was a fundamental change in point of view.

[Picaro]

8. Agree

I miss my tripping days.

But basically—same here.

My first psilocybin trip was profoundly transformative. In a good way.

My acid trips no less so.

While you really can’t get addicted to psychedelics—I loved the experience of LSD so much that I took it constantly. Sometimes taking it so much that I would be unable to get off and would be forced to take a respite until I could get off again.

In those days, I considered “moderation” a dirty word…😉

[twodogsbarking]

9. Proper dosage is key. You are likely to remember the experience your entire life.

There is a lot going on inside of each of us that we haven't yet discovered. IMO.

[NBachers]

11. Looks like my brain was "augmented" a long time ago.

[Cheezoholic]

12. First flush of Spring Ecuadorians happening right now in a "friends" closet lol ;);) n/t