Current Biology
December 1, 2023
Nicholas Kolbman, Tiecheng Liu, Peter R. Guzzo et al.
21 citations
A single intravenous dose of psilocybin reduces mechanical hypersensitivity for 28 days in a rat model of formalin-induced chronic pain, suggesting potential for treating chronic pain conditions. The study addresses a gap in research on psilocybin's effectiveness for chronic pain, as prior work focused on psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. No systematic investigation had previously examined psilocybin's impact on chronic pain indices.
Translational Psychiatry
March 25, 2025
Brian H Silverstein, Nicholas Kolbman, Amanda Nelson et al.
8 citations
Psilocybin alters brain network organization in rats in a dose-dependent manner. Using electroencephalography from 27 cortical sites in 12 rats, the study found that psilocybin disrupted theta-gamma coupling, increased frontal high gamma connectivity and network density, and increased posterior theta connectivity and density. Medium gamma frontoparietal connectivity and behavioral activity showed an inverted-U relationship with dose. These results suggest that high-frequency network organization, decoupled from local theta-phase, may be a key signature of psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
February 12, 2024
Brian H Silverstein, Nicholas Kolbman, Amanda Nelson et al.
3 citations
preprint
Psilocybin disrupts the coupling between theta and gamma brain waves in rats and reorganizes brain networks in a dose-dependent manner. Using 27 electrodes across the cortex, the study found that psilocybin increased frontal high gamma connectivity and posterior theta connectivity, as well as network density in those regions. Medium gamma frontoparietal connectivity showed a nonlinear relationship with dose. Theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling was disrupted. These changes suggest that high-frequency network organization, decoupled from local theta-phase, may be a signature of the altered state of consciousness induced by psilocybin.
Journal of Eating Disorders
January 3, 2026
Jesse Dallery, Jennifer L Miller, Jeff Boissoneault et al.
1 citation
In a small open-label pilot study, five adults with binge-eating disorder received a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. No serious adverse events occurred. All participants reported fewer binge-eating episodes through the 14-week follow-up, along with improvements in depression, anxiety, and psychological flexibility. Three participants also lost weight and reduced waist circumference. Because the study was unblinded and had only five participants, the results cannot confirm cause and effect. Brain scans showed hints of increased activity in regions linked to cognitive control and self-awareness when viewing processed versus unprocessed food images. These findings point toward larger, controlled trials.
Figshare
January 1, 2026
Jesse Dallery, Jennifer L. Miller, Jeff Boissoneault et al.
No Summary
Figshare
January 1, 2026
Jesse Dallery, Jennifer L. Miller, Jeff Boissoneault et al.
No Summary
Figshare
January 1, 2026
Jesse Dallery, Jennifer L. Miller, Jeff Boissoneault et al.
A single 25 mg dose of psilocybin, combined with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, was tested in five adults with binge-eating disorder. The treatment was well tolerated with no serious adverse events. All participants reported reduced binge eating frequency that lasted through 14 weeks. Improvements also occurred in depression, anxiety, and psychological inflexibility. Three participants lost weight and reduced waist circumference. Brain scans showed increased activity in regions linked to cognitive control and self-awareness when viewing processed versus unprocessed food cues. Because the study was small and open-label, causality cannot be determined, but the results support larger controlled trials.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
August 28, 2023
Nicholas Kolbman, Tiecheng Liu, Peter R. Guzzo et al.
preprint
A single intravenous dose of psilocybin (1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) reduced mechanical hypersensitivity in rats for 28 days after formalin-induced chronic pain, but had only a limited effect on thermal hyperalgesia. Formalin injection caused thermal hyperalgesia and bilateral mechanical hypersensitivity in all rats. Psilocybin significantly attenuated the mechanical hypersensitivity throughout the 28-day testing period, while thermal hyperalgesia was reduced only on days 1, 3, 5, and 21. These results suggest psilocybin may have potential for treating chronic pain, though its effects on different pain types vary.