Psilocybin decreases neural responsiveness and increases functional connectivity while preserving pure-tone frequency selectivity in mouse auditory cortex
Adam T. Brockett, Nikolas A. Francis
Journal of Neurophysiology May 29, 2024 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00124.2024 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Awake mice |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics hallucinogens Hearing Auditory cortex Behavior Neuroscience brain research Brain function Entheogens Neural activity |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin modulates the relative roles of intrinsic neural activity and stimulus-driven influences on auditory processing in the auditory cortex. |
Abstract
Recent studies have shown promising therapeutic potential for psychedelics in treating neuropsychiatric conditions. Musical experience during psilocybin-assisted therapy is predictive of treatment outcome, yet little is known about how psilocybin affects auditory processing. Here, we conducted two-photon imaging experiments in auditory cortex of awake mice that received a dose of psilocybin. Our results suggest that psilocybin modulates the roles of intrinsic neural activity versus stimulus-driven influences on auditory perception.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Mice | 2021 | Observational cohort | |
| Harnessing psilocybin: antidepressant-like behavioral and synaptic actions of psilocybin are independent of 5-HT2R activation in mice Mice | 2021 | Experimental study | |
| Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period Mice | 2023 | Experimental study in mice | |
| Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. C57BL/6J mice | 2020 | Experimental study with dose-response experiments | |
| Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Mice | 2013 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Age- and estrous-dependent effects of psilocybin in rats. Neuropharmacology November 15, 2025
- Psilocybin prevents habituation to familiar stimuli and preserves sensitivity to sound following repeated stimulation in mouse primary auditory cortex bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) September 30, 2024
- Psilocybin collapses visual change detection and drives cortical dynamics toward a state of surprise bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) August 25, 2026
- Psilocybin Attenuates Cortical Representations of Aversion in the Mouse Auditory Cortex. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology March 27, 2026
- Stroboscopic light stimulation as a controllable probe of the psilocybin state: a mechanistic framework and a falsifiable prediction Frontiers in Pharmacology September 30, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 27
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
and 22 more in the library