Microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
Federico Cavanna, Stephanie Müller, Laura Alethia de la Fuente, Federico Zamberlán, Matías Palmucci, Lucie Janeckova, Martin Kuchař, Carla Pallavicini, Enzo Tagliazucchi
Translational Psychiatry August 2, 2022 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02039-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Double-blind placebo-controlled experimental design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 34 |
| Population | Individuals starting to microdose with psilocybin mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis) |
| Intervention | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Dose | 0.5 g of dried mushrooms |
| Topics | Psilocybin Microdosing |
| Keywords | Placebo Cognition Hallucinogen Creativity Audiology Perception Electroencephalography Clinical psychology Pharmacology |
| Citations | 130 |
| Key findings | Low doses of psilocybin mushrooms produced noticeable subjective effects and altered EEG rhythms but did not enhance well-being, creativity, or cognitive function, indicating that expectation underlies many reported benefits. |
Abstract
Abstract The use of low sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics (“microdosing”) has gained popularity in recent years. Although anecdotal reports claim multiple benefits associated with this practice, the lack of placebo-controlled studies severely limits our knowledge of microdosing and its effects. Moreover, research conducted in standard laboratory settings could fail to capture the motivation of individuals engaged or planning to engage in microdosing protocols, thus underestimating the likelihood of positive effects on creativity and cognitive function. We recruited 34 individuals starting to microdose with psilocybin mushrooms ( Psilocybe cubensis ), one of the materials most frequently used for this purpose. Following a double-blind placebo-controlled experimental design, we investigated the acute and short-term effects of 0.5 g of dried mushrooms on subjective experience, behavior, creativity (divergent and convergent thinking), perception, cognition, and brain activity. The reported acute effects were significantly more intense for the active dose compared to the placebo, but only for participants who correctly identified their experimental condition. These changes were accompanied by reduced EEG power in the theta band, together with preserved levels of Lempel-Ziv broadband signal complexity. For all other measurements there was no effect of microdosing except for few small changes towards cognitive impairment. According to our findings, low doses of psilocybin mushrooms can result in noticeable subjective effects and altered EEG rhythms, but without evidence to support enhanced well-being, creativity and cognitive function. We conclude that expectation underlies at least some of the anecdotal benefits attributed to microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
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0.5 g of dried psilocybin mushrooms produced noticeable subjective effects and altered EEG rhythms but did not enhance well-being, creativity, or cognitive function, with a few small changes toward cognitive impairment.
Synthesized
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State of the evidence: Microdosing No effect
Low doses of psilocybin mushrooms produced noticeable subjective effects and altered EEG theta power but did not enhance well-being, creativity, or cognitive function, with a few small changes toward cognitive impairment.
Synthesized
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin and microdosing, most cited first.