Psilocybin alters the functional organization of distinct thalamic subregions and their connections to cortical networks, particularly the mediodorsal and pulvinar nuclei. Using a novel ICA-based approach in 18 healthy meditators, psilocybin-induced changes in intrathalamic spatial organization correlated with subjective drug effects. Thalamocortical connectivity predominantly decreased with visual and default mode networks. In contrast, treating the thalamus as a single unit showed a non-significant numerical increase in connectivity, suggesting that whole-thalamus analyses may mask focal decreases in specific nuclei that express serotonin 2A receptors.
Psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, alters perception and cognition by affecting connectivity between the thalamus and cortex. Using a novel analysis of resting-state fMRI data, this study found that psilocybin changes the functional organization within specific thalamic nuclei—primarily the mediodorsal and pulvinar nuclei—and alters their connections with visual and default mode networks. These changes correlated with subjective drug effects. When the thalamus was treated as a single unit, a numerical but not statistically significant increase in thalamocortical connectivity was observed, suggesting that psilocybin causes widespread modest increases offset by strong focal decreases in relevant nuclei.
A review of empirical and theoretical literature proposes that motor control and cognitive control are tightly linked, with skillful movement covarying with skillful attention and self-regulation. In ADHD, deficient motor control correlates with impaired behavioral inhibition, contributing to distractibility and impulsivity. Mindful movement practices such as yoga and tai chi may improve the functional quality of rehearsed motor procedures, cultivating a transferrable skill of attention. The authors endorse a model where motor plans, attention, and executive goals are mutually co-defining aspects of skilled behavior linked by reciprocal inhibitory and excitatory connections. Mindful movement training may benefit individuals with ADHD and other populations.