Thread by @NTFabiano

Psilocybin leads to a profound shift in brain connectivity patterns.

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These findings are from a study in @RSocPublishing which analyzed the characteristics of functional brain networks using fMRI after an intravenous infusion of psilocybin. 2/10 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…

Networks, as efficient representations of complex systems, have appealed to scientists for a long time and now permeate many areas of science, including neuroimaging. 3/10

Traditionally, the structure of complex networks have been studied through their statistical properties and metrics concerned with node and link properties. 4/10

In this study, the characteristics of functional brain networks were analyzed at the mesoscopic level from a novel perspective that highlighted the role of inhomogeneities in the fabric of functional connections. 5/10

To do this, healthy volunteers were given intravenous infusions of psilocybin (the main psychoactive component in magic mushrooms) or placebo (saline) and underwent fMRI brain imaging. 6/10

The psilocybin group had a profound shift in brain connectivity patterns, dissolving fixed networks and creating new communication pathways. 7/10

This fluid and flexible state may help patients and therapists work together to break down rigid thinking styles associated with conditions such as depression, addiction, and PTSD. 8/10

This mechanism could explain the clinical effectiveness seen for psilocybin in randomized controlled trials. 9/10nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

Overall, these results suggest that the psychedelic state is associated with a less constrained and more intercommunicative mode of brain function, which may be a key mechanism in the effectiveness of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. 10/10

@JD_Rosenblat @IshratHusain_