Microdosing psychedelics has no impact on cognitive function in naturalistic settings
Journal of Psychology & Clinical Psychiatry August 1, 2023 DOI: 10.15406/jpcpy.2023.14.00738 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational within-subjects design Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 17 |
| Population | Participants during their microdosing regimen |
| Intervention | psychedelic microdoses |
| Topics | Microdosing |
| Keywords | Neurocognitive Cognition Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Microdosing psychedelics was not significantly linked to enhanced or diminished performance on any measured cognitive domain, suggesting subjective enhancement may be psychological rather than neurocognitive. |
Abstract
Background and
Aim: Subjective and anecdotal accounts link ingestion of psychedelic microdoses, quantities small enough to retain perceptual clarity, to enhanced cognitive function and performance. In this study we review current evidence, test the link between domains of cognitive function and microdosing psychedelics and evaluate a remote testing approach for cognitive function.
Methods: In an observational within-subjects design, we repeatedly assessed 17 participants during their microdosing regimen using the CNSVS neurocognitive battery in a naturalistic setting.
Results: We found that neither the day of microdosing, nor the day after microdosing are significantly linked to enhanced or diminished performance on processing speed, sustained attention, inhibitory control, set shifting, working memory, visual memory and verbal memory.
Conclusion: Microdosing psychedelics may act on psychological rather than neurocognitive pathways to induce a subjective feeling of performance enhancement. The use of remote cognitive batteries might benefit longitudinal cross-cultural studies by reducing participant burden
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on microdosing, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microdosing Clinical Study: Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacogenomic (SLCO2B1), and Interaction (Grapefruit Juice) Profiles of Celiprolol Following the Oral Microdose and Therapeutic Dose Healthy volunteers matched for SLCO2B1 genotype | 2011 | Pharmacokinetic study | n = 30 |
| PK and PK / PD Modeling of Bcl2 Inhibitor S65487 in Patients With AML and Investigation of Nonlinearity With Microdosing Phase I/II cancer patients and healthy volunteers | 2026 | Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling study | |
| Technical pen-based printhead for high-precision microdosing of personalized therapies. | 2026 | Experimental study | |
| Analysis of Serotonin in Caenorhabditis Elegans Subjected to Micro-Dosing with Psilocybin| Iris Publishers Caenorhabditis elegans | 2025 | Experimental study | |
| Microdosing ketamine in Drosophila does not inhibit SERT like SSRIs, but causes behavioral changes mediated by glutamate and serotonin receptors Drosophila melanogaster larvae | 2023 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effects of psychedelic microdosing on cognitive functions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2026
- Classical psychedelic microdosing, mood, and cognitive function: An umbrella review with narrative synthesis Journal of Psychopharmacology June 28, 2026
- Public priorities in psychedelics research Journal of Psychedelic Studies September 8, 2025
Cites 27
- Set and setting, psychedelics and the placebo response: An extra-pharmacological perspective on psychopharmacology Journal of Psychopharmacology November 16, 2016
- Increased global integration in the brain after psilocybin therapy for depression. Nature Medicine April 11, 2022
- Psilocybin therapy increases cognitive and neural flexibility in patients with major depressive disorder. Translational Psychiatry November 8, 2021
- Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study PLoS One August 8, 2012
- Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology March 18, 2016
and 22 more in the library