Psychedelic Experiences Increase Mind Perception but do not Change Atheist-Believer Status: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Sandeep M. Nayak, Sydney H White, Samantha Hilbert, Matthew X. Lowe, Heather Jackson, Roland R. Griffiths, Albert Garcia‐romeu, David B. Yaden
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs May 7, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2024.2346130 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective longitudinal study Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 657 |
| Population | People who planned to have a psilocybin experience outside a laboratory setting |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Belief change Mind perception Consciousness awareness Sentience Cognition Belief systems worldview Ideology Faith Religious beliefs |
| Citations | 18 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin experiences were associated with increased mind perception across various targets but not with changes in metaphysical beliefs or Atheist-Believer status. |
Abstract
Recent studies suggest psychedelic use may be associated with changes in a variety of beliefs or belief-like states, including increased 1) mind perception, 2) non-naturalistic beliefs, and 3) Atheist-Believer status (e.g. believer, agnostic, or nonbeliever). We conducted a prospective longitudinal study among participants (N = 657) who planned to have a psilocybin experience outside a laboratory setting. We asked participants about their beliefs concerning mind perception of various entities, specific metaphysical positions, and Atheist-Believer status both before (and after their experience. Replicating previous findings, we observed increases in mind perception across a variety of living and non-living targets (e.g. plants, rocks). However, we found little to no change in metaphysical beliefs (e.g. dualism) or Atheist-Believer status. Taken together, these findings contrast with those from cross-sectional studies that psilocybin experiences result in changes to Atheist-Believer status and non-naturalistic beliefs but support the relevance of mind perception and mentalization.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 19 |
| Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 8 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Classic psychedelic use is associated with reduced psychological distress and suicidality in the United States adult population. USA adult respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012) | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 190,000 |
| Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 409 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Distinctive But Not Exceptional: The Risks of Psychedelic Ethical Exceptionalism. The American Journal of Bioethics 2025
- Commentary: On the need for metaphysics in psychedelic therapy and research Frontiers in Psychology 2023
- Psychedelics, attachment, and enculturation dynamics: Prospects and challenges Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 30, 2025
- Predictors of therapeutic response to psychedelic-assisted therapy: A systematic review. Journal of Psychopharmacology May 1, 2026
- The Relationship Between Psychedelic Use and Positive Adult Development in Emerging Adulthood: An Integrative Review. Brain and Behavior November 1, 2025
and 8 more in the library
Cites 17
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. Psychopharmacology December 1, 2011
- The Varieties of Self-Transcendent Experience Review of General Psychology May 1, 2017
- Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Journal of Psychopharmacology October 6, 2015
- A Revised Paranormal Belief Scale International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 2004
- Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT PLoS One April 23, 2019
and 12 more in the library