How does psilocybe cubensis affect your brain? In recent years, medicinal fungi have been trending for the impact they have on the body and mind.
Not many people understand how the psychedelic fungi work, or the effects they have on the brain. It’s intriguing how one specific compound in certain mushroom species can induce a powerful experience.
Below, we uncover more about psilocybe cubensis and how the body absorbs it. We also highlight the role of neurotransmitters in the process, and how the compound can cause alterations in brain activity. Join us as we unpack the secrets of psilocybe cubensis’s neurological effects.
What are medicinal fungi? Across the globe, certain fungi induce psychedelic effects. The source of these experiences is psilocybe cubensis: a naturally occurring psychedelic compound.1
Psilocybin has hallucinogenic effects and is present in certain species of fresh and dry mushrooms. Psychedelic mushrooms have ancient origins and have been a part of spiritual practices for decades.
In some cultures, the fungi were used in rituals or shamanic practices. Some people believed that the hallucinogenic effects created a link between humans and their deities.
In recent years, medicinal fungi have come to the attention of many for their potential health benefits. There’s ongoing research that highlights how psilocybe cubensis may help with various mental disorders.2
Experts are now able to produce “pure” psilocybe cubensis in labs. In the United States, psilocybe cubensis is illegal under federal law. It’s classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Some states have more lenient laws, like Denver and Colorado. 2
There has been an increase in interest in psilocybe cubensis. People are keen on understanding the potential health benefits it may have.
Some people believe that the compound, in its pure form, may be able to help with depression, addictions, migraines, PTSD, and other similar disorders.1
Theoretically, psilocybe cubensis should be able to have an impact on these conditions. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims is lacking.
Individuals who advocate for the compound’s benefits claim that psilocybe cubensis stimulates certain areas in the brain. These parts are linked to certain health issues.
What happens to the brain once psilocybe cubensis enters the body? It’s common for individuals to experience distortions of the self, space, and time.
Understanding this requires us to unpack how the compound is absorbed and moves through the body.
In most cases, individuals consume the mushrooms and they enter the digestive system. The blood absorbs the psilocybe cubensis. The changes begin once this blood gets filtered by the liver.3
In this organ, the body employs common mechanisms to transform and metabolize psilocybe cubensis into psilocin. Within 30 minutes, psilocin makes its way to the brain. This is when it induces unique effects.
The science of psilocybe cubensis is interesting. The compound interacts with the serotonergic system, almost mimicking the function of the neurotransmitter serotonin.3
These functions are complex and include:
The compound then binds to serotonin receptors, but the effects are more intense than that of serotonin. When experts used a functional MRI scanner, the results showed:
Experts interpret a reduction in blood flow between two regions as fewer connections between the areas.3
Using this information, the hypothesis is that lower activity levels in these hub regions are related to psilocybe cubensis in the body. It enables unconstrained cognition.
Findings also show that the compound’s mechanism of action is diminished brain activity and connectivity.4
How does psilocybe cubensis affect the body’s neurotransmitters? Technically, it’s psilocin that has the impact, the compound that’s left once the body strips off a phosphate molecule from psilocybe cubensis.5
The remaining psilocin is what causes the psychedelic experience. It binds to one of the same receptors (5HT2A) of serotonin. This receptor is also the target of other psychedelic drugs.5
Serotonin is involved in these processes:
Scientists aren’t sure why this specific receptor gets targeted, but research is ongoing.5
Studies in mice demonstrated that psilocybe cubensis causes changes in brain activity. It may even create new connections between different parts of the brain.5
Studies in people suggest that the connections responsible for how you see the world increase when psilocybe cubensis is in the body. However, it weakens the connections responsible for understanding environmental signals.5
Scientists believe that these changes in communication pathways of the brain may be what causes the alterations in the individual’s state of consciousness.
Psilocybin also reduces the amount of energy the brain requires to switch between different activity states. Psilocin may also trigger the release of other neurotransmitters, such as glutamate or dopamine. These may enhance the hallucinogenic effects. 6
Research and clinical studies done on people with addictive disorders have displayed positive results. The main question that these results led to is, can we reap psilocybe cubensis’s benefits without experiencing the hallucinogenic effects?
While the question is not completely answered, one way of accomplishing this is through microdosing.5
Current studies show that psilocybe cubensis may impact the entire brain. Let’s assess how various parts of the brain function.
We’ve already highlighted that the changes in activity from psilocybe cubensis occur due to the compound binding to the 5HT2A serotonin receptors.
The action causes a spike in activity in certain brain regions. One of these is the visual cortex. The role of this area of the brain is related to sensory processing.7
Increased activity in this region leads to a hallucinogenic experience. There are also other reactions, including:
The default mode network (DMN) also gets affected by the introduction of psilocin in the body. Changes in this area also contribute to the psychedelic experience.8
Each individual’s experience differs. Various factors determine the effects different people get. Psychological traits may be one of these factors.
We have only anecdotal data on the neurochemical effects of the compound. The laws surrounding it are restrictive and prevent studying its impacts on larger groups of individuals. 9
A study conducted in 2012 gave information on the first FMRI findings of psilocybe cubensis. The discovery made is that psilocybe cubensis reduced activity in certain brain regions. 9
While the whole brain appears to undergo changes, the main affected regions of the DMN are:
Typically, these two regions have strong connectivity and communicate well with each other. When psilocin is present, there are fewer connections. 9
Studies show that when there is low activity in the posterior cingulate cortex, the hallucinogenic impact is more intense.7
The same FMRI study found that the psychedelic compound resulted in higher connectivity levels in other regions of the brain. An example is the dorsal attention network (DAN).9
The DAN is responsible for encoding and maintaining preparatory signals and modulating top-down sensory regions.10 These regions consist of:
It affects your perception of the external environment and how you interact with objects.10
When the body is exposed to psilocin, the DAN and DMN become better connected. The new, strong communication between these regions may cause the distortion of perception of the external world. It may also alter memories.7
The impact psilocybe cubensis has on a person’s memory may have more to do with the hippocampus than the DAN and DMN. Erratic activity occurs in this part of the brain when psilocin is present in the body.10
Researchers believe the erratic activity may cause changes in the individual’s thought patterns. This may be why certain people claim that a psychedelic experience changed their perspective on life.10
Studies are inconclusive on various points of psilocybe cubensis. It’s mainly due to inconsistencies in research. As interest in the compound grows, more conclusive findings may come to the fore.7
The interest in medicinal fungi is growing at a rapid rate. Many people are keen on understanding how psilocybe cubensis could help with various ailments.
Individuals who have had little success with traditional health care are hopeful that the solutions may lie with psilocybe cubensis.11
Researchers in the field claim that psilocybe cubensis is safe in controlled settings. Anecdotal studies suggest the compound may be effective in helping with symptoms of:12
There are various studies that suggest these conditions may benefit from psilocybe cubensis treatment.12
John Hopkins University undertook a study in October 2021. They did this after receiving a grant from the National Institute of Health. The objective was to uncover the potential value of psilocybe cubensis as a smoking cessation tool. 13
The study was groundbreaking, as it was the first federal grant in 50 years aimed at studying psychedelic treatment in the USA.13
A UK-based mental healthcare firm conducted an exploratory study. It involved using psilocybe cubensis therapy for patients with anorexia nervosa. 14
The results from the preliminary study looked encouraging. However, larger-scale studies are required.11
Psilocybin is a Schedule 1 substance in the United States, because the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse. It also believes that it doesn’t serve a legitimate medical purpose.15
Current research contradicts some of these beliefs and doesn’t categorize the compound as addictive. Despite these findings, there are several potential risks to be aware of with medicinal fungi.15
The compound isn’t naturally addictive, but it can trigger psychotic episodes. Individuals with a family history of psychosis are more at risk of having an adverse psychiatric reaction.
Magic mushrooms vary in potency, and this also impacts the effects. How powerful the impact is depends on factors like:
There’s also a general consensus that dried mushrooms typically contain more psilocybe cubensis than fresh ones. 15
The effects are similar to those of other psychedelics, like LSD, producing feelings like:
There are also some less pleasant effects that may occur during the psychedelic experience.15 These may include:
The effects an individual experiences are determined by multiple factors. Their mental state and environment are contributing factors.17 Some individuals have more adverse experiences, and the risks include:
Even though many experts agree that psilocybe cubensis isn’t addictive, some individuals may experience psychological withdrawal after consuming psilocybe cubensis. They may struggle to adjust to reality. Individuals may also develop a tolerance to the compound.16
Psilocybin is an intriguing compound. Its powerful effects impact the brain in various ways. It’s shown to increase communication between certain brain regions while decreasing the connection in other parts.
It’s currently garnering interest from many individuals who are looking for alternative treatments. Research on the compound’s therapeutic benefits is mostly anecdotal, but looks promising.
Future studies on psilocybe cubensis may focus on finding commonalities and consistencies that make it medically useful.
Now that you know more about how psilocybe cubensis affects the brain, why not learn more about these fascinating fungi? Browse the Good Moods blog to discover more interesting facts about medicinal fungi.
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