CNS Drugs
August 7, 2026
Chiranth Bhagavan, O. Carter, Glenn Nielsen et al.
BACKGROUND: Psychedelics exert widespread effects on brain activity, but their impact on motor function is unclear. This is clinically relevant given the emerging interest in psychedelic-assisted physical therapy for disorders of motor function. This study examined the feasibility and safety of administering movement tasks following low-to-moderate doses of psilocybin in healthy volunteers....
Psychopharmacology
June 17, 2026
Pierre Klintefors, Chiranth Bhagavan, Richard Kanaan et al.
RATIONALE: Clinical interest in psilocybin-assisted rehabilitation for motor disorders is growing. However, psilocybin's motor effects are under-researched, and quantifying them is essential for assessing treatment risks and outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to clarify whether acute effects of psilocybin disrupt established patterns of manual dexterity and coordination. Specifically, we...
medRxiv Preprint Server
April 17, 2026
Chiranth Bhagavan, Orwa Dandash, Olivia Carter et al.
preprint
Background Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic that acutely alters brain functional connectivity. These changes are linked to therapeutic doses and subjective effects, with some evidence that changes persist beyond acute drug administration. However, the effects of lower doses on sustained connectivity changes remain unclear.
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
February 10, 2026
Chiranth Bhagavan, Olivia Carter, Alexander Bryson et al.
1 citation
Functional disorders, characterised by symptoms unexplained by organic disease, impose a significant burden on individuals and healthcare systems. Existing treatments are limited in efficacy, with no effective pharmacotherapies. There is growing evidence supporting the treatment potential of psychedelics in neuropsychiatric conditions, including several distinct functional disorders. This...
medRxiv
December 23, 2025
Chiranth Bhagavan, Olivia Carter, Glenn Nielsen et al.
1 citation
Abstract Background Psychedelics exert widespread effects on brain activity, but their impact on motor function is unclear. This is clinically relevant given the emerging interest in psychedelic-assisted physical therapy for disorders of motor function. This study’s primary objectives examined the feasibility and safety of administering movement tasks following low-to-moderate doses of...
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
November 4, 2025
Chiranth Bhagavan, Alexander Bryson, Olivia Carter et al.
4 citations
Abstract Background: Motor functional neurological disorder (FND) is a common illness associated with significant functional impairment. There are no effective pharmacotherapies, and despite the early promise of physiotherapy studies, many suffer disabling symptoms in the long term. There is a theoretical rationale for combining psychedelics with physiotherapy; however, the potential benefit of...
Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice
July 23, 2024
Chiranth Bhagavan, Richard Kanaan, Olivia Carter et al.
2 citations
Background There has been a resurgence of research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for neuropsychiatric disorders. Classic psychedelics, such as psilocybin, exert complex effects on higher cognitive functions such as perception and awareness, but their impact on motor function remains unexplored. Moreover, there is a theoretical rationale for using psychedelics to...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
February 8, 2017
Alexander Bryson, Olivia Carter, Trevor R. Norman et al.
19 citations
Functional neurological disorders are frequently encountered in clinical practice. They have a poor prognosis and treatment options are limited. Their etiology is unknown, but leading theories propose a disturbance of somatic self-representation: the mind perceives dysfunction of a body region despite intact motor and sensory pathways. Central to this model is the concept of an abnormal...