Acute effects of psilocybin on the dynamics of gaze fixations during visual aesthetic perception.
Stephanie Müller, Federico Cavanna, Laura De la Fuente, Nicolás Bruno, Tomás Ariel D’amelio, Carla Pallavicini, Enzo Tagliazucchi
Scientific Reports July 9, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10206-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Dose | low vs. high doses |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psychedelics Hallucinogens Entheogens Art perception Aesthetic experience Visual art viewing Art appreciation Artistic perception Eye tracking Gaze patterns Visual fixations Oculomotor behavior Eye movements Cognitive science Brain research Psychopharmacology |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | High doses of psilocybin mushrooms led to more local visual exploration and less entropic distribution of fixations when viewing paintings, without affecting aesthetic ratings. |
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics are remarkable for their capacity to induce variable yet reproducible modifications to human consciousness. The acute effects of these compounds include perceptual alterations, predominantly in the visual domain, yet these alterations have been mostly documented only by subjective reports. We used eye-tracking to quantify the effects of low vs. high doses of psilocybin mushrooms on eye movements during the exploration of complex visual stimuli under semi-naturalistic conditions, focusing on the case of aesthetic perception. The experimental condition (high vs. low dose) was a priori unknown to participants and experimenters. High doses resulted in a more local visual exploration of paintings, and a less entropic distribution of fixations. While psilocybin altered gaze behavior and increased subjective emotional intensity and feelings of flow, it did not affect the aesthetic ratings of the stimuli, suggesting a dissociation between perceptual and evaluative aspects of aesthetic experience. These findings suggest that psilocybin may influence gaze fixation by altering the perception of low-level visual features, including textures, shapes, and colors. Our work highlights the possibility of investigating psychedelics by addressing their effect on behavior under complex naturalistic conditions, contributing to maintaining subject engagement while also increasing the ecological validity of the findings.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety | 2016 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 51 |
| Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression | 2016 | Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial | n = 29 |
| Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Hallucinogen-naïve adults reporting regular participation in religious or spiritual... | 2006 | Double-blind study | n = 36 |
| Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression Selected group of patients with depression | 2021 | Randomized controlled trial | |
| Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder Adults aged 21 to 75 years with major depressive disorder, not currently using... | 2020 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 24 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 23
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics Pharmacological Reviews June 20, 2019
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- Predicting Responses to Psychedelics: A Prospective Study Frontiers in Pharmacology November 2, 2018
- Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers PLoS One February 17, 2012
and 18 more in the library