Utility of preclinical models in the study of psilocybin – A comprehensive review
Megan Pedicini, Zachary A. Cordner
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews January 13, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105046 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 57 |
| Population | Rodent models |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Preclinical models Rodent models Translational neuroscience Translational psychiatry Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psilocin studies Brain science Neural studies Mental health |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | The literature on psilocybin in preclinical rodent models is small, with pharmacology studies accounting for the majority, and four broad areas of investigation were identified. |
Abstract
Interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin across a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders is rapidly expanding. Despite promising clinical data and tremendous public enthusiasm, complimentary basic and translational studies - which are critical for advancing our understanding of psilocybin's biological effects and promoting innovation - have been relatively few. As with all work involving the study of complex neuropsychopharmacology, the search for deeper understanding of biological mechanisms, and the need for nuanced behavioral analyses in the context of both normal and diseased states, the roles for preclinical models are clear. A systematic search of the literature identified 57 articles involving the study of psilocybin in preclinical rodent models. A comprehensive review and thematic analysis identified 4 broad areas of investigation - pharmacology, toxicity, effects on disease models, and molecular mechanisms - with pharmacology studies accounting for the majority. Though these papers represent a still remarkably small body of literature, several important conclusions can already be drawn, and several areas of high priority for future work can be identified.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies Patients with cancer- or illness-related anxiety and depression, major depressive... | 2020 | Systematic review | n = 188 |
| Blinding and expectancy confounds in psychedelic randomized controlled trials | 2021 | Systematic review | |
| 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 Patients from included clinical trials | 2016 | Systematic review | |
| The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis People with elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression | 2020 | Meta-analysis | n = 117 |
| Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review Participants from included studies | 2022 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Evaluation of behavioural and neurochemical effects of psilocybin in mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress Translational Psychiatry June 14, 2025
- Disentangling the acute subjective effects of classic psychedelics from their enduring therapeutic properties. Psychopharmacology May 14, 2024
- Psilocybin reduces grooming in the SAPAP3 knockout mouse model of compulsive behaviour. Neuropharmacology 2025
- Clinical and preclinical evidence of psilocybin as antidepressant. A narrative review Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 2025
- Engineering artificial biosynthetic pathways for efficient microbial production of psilocybin and psilocin Metabolic Engineering November 5, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 62
- 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
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action Neuroreport December 1, 1998
- Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Neuron July 5, 2021
- Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2019
and 57 more in the library