what magic mushrooms do to your brain

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New Brain Scan Study Sheds Light on How Psilocybin May Help Treat Depression

A recent analysis of brain scans from nearly 60 individuals undergoing depression treatment, led by researchers at Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research, has uncovered potential insights into how psilocybin—the active compound in “magic mushrooms”—produces its therapeutic effects.

Psilocybin is among several psychedelics being investigated as a promising treatment for psychiatric conditions. Previous trials using a synthesized version of the compound have shown encouraging results in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The new findings, drawn from two combined studies, reveal that patients who responded well to psilocybin-assisted therapy experienced heightened brain connectivity not only during treatment but also for up to three weeks afterward. This prolonged “opening up” of neural networks correlated with participants reporting reduced depressive symptoms.

Notably, these changes in brain connectivity were not observed in patients treated with escitalopram, a conventional antidepressant, suggesting that psilocybin’s mechanism of action differs from standard pharmacological approaches.

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How Psychedelic Mushrooms “Reset” the Brain to Help with Depression

A groundbreaking study from Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research has uncovered how psilocybin—the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms—may relieve depression by reshaping brain connectivity. The findings, based on brain scans of nearly 60 patients, suggest that psilocybin’s effects are fundamentally different from traditional antidepressants.

Psychedelics Disrupt “Default Mode Network” to Open the Mind

According to research from Washington University School of Medicine, psychedelics like psilocybin work by temporarily disrupting the brain’s default mode network (DMN)—a system linked to self-reflection, rumination, and depressive thinking. Normally, this network acts like an “autopilot” for repetitive thoughts. Psilocybin appears to “quiet” this overactive circuitry, allowing for more flexible thinking and emotional release.

Lasting Brain Changes After Just One Dose

The Imperial College study found that patients who responded to psilocybin therapy showed:

• Increased communication between brain regions that don’t usually interact.
• Effects lasting up to three weeks after treatment—far beyond the drug’s immediate psychedelic experience.
• Greater self-reported improvements in mood compared to those taking escitalopram (a common SSRI).

Why Is This Different from Traditional Antidepressants?

Standard antidepressants like SSRIs work gradually by altering serotonin levels. In contrast, psilocybin seems to create rapid, brain-wide changes—almost like a “system reboot” for neural networks. As the Washington University research explains, this temporary disruption may help “reset” maladaptive thought patterns in depression.

The Future of Psychedelic Therapy

While more research is needed, these findings support the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy—where the drug is used alongside psychological support—as a breakthrough for treatment-resistant depression. Unlike daily medications, some patients experience benefits after just one or two sessions.

Magic mushroom compound increases brain connectivity in people with depression

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Key Takeaways:

✅ Psilocybin may “unstick” rigid brain networks tied to depression.
✅ Effects persist weeks after the trip, suggesting long-term rewiring.
✅ Works differently (and possibly faster) than SSRIs.

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