Psilocybin increases optimistic engagement over time: computational modelling of behavior in rats
Elizabeth L. Fisher, Ryan Smith, Andrew W. Corcoran, Laura K Milton, Kyna Conn, Jakob Hohwy, Claire J. Foldi
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) May 17, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.16.594614 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Psilocybin treatment in rats increased rewards through increased task engagement, mediated by modification of forgetting rates and reduced loss aversion, suggesting an optimism bias from altered belief updating. |
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin has shown promise as a novel pharmacological intervention for treatment of depression, where post-acute effects of psilocybin treatment have been associated with increased positive mood and decreased pessimism. Although psilocybin is proving to be effective in clinical trials for treatment of psychiatric disorders, the information processing mechanisms affected by psilocybin are not well understood. Here, we fit computational models of underlying decision-making mechanisms to behaviour in rats. The model revealed that rats treated with psilocybin achieve more rewards through increased task engagement, mediated by modification of forgetting rates and reduced loss aversion. These findings suggest that psilocybin may afford an optimism bias that arises through altered belief updating, with translational potential for clinical populations characterised by lack of optimism.
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
Cites 16
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Psychopharmacology November 8, 2017
- Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Neuron July 5, 2021
- Efficacy and safety of psilocybin-assisted treatment for major depressive disorder: Prospective 12-month follow-up Journal of Psychopharmacology February 1, 2022
- Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Scientific Reports February 10, 2020
- Hallucinogens in Mental Health: Preclinical and Clinical Studies on LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, and Ketamine Journal of Neuroscience November 30, 2020
and 11 more in the library