Psychedelic Treatments Incoming

"Scientists have discovered that psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic “magic mushrooms,” significantly alters brain connectivity in rats. This research, which closely replicates findings in humans, offers new insights into how psilocybin could be used to treat psychiatric disorders such as alcohol use disorder. The findings have been published in Translational Psychiatry. Previous research has shown that psilocybin holds promise as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety related to terminal illness, and addiction. However, the precise mechanisms by which psilocybin exerts its therapeutic effects remain unclear. Most prior research has focused on its effects in healthy individuals, without considering variations in brain response based on specific psychiatric disorders. This knowledge gap motivated researchers to investigate how psilocybin impacts the brain in the context of alcohol use disorder (AUD), a condition where earlier studies suggested a potential benefit from psychedelic treatments. https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/new-neuroimaging-findings-pave-the-way-for-key-insights-into-psychedelic-therapy-220705