Does psilocybin alter the brain’s response to food choice and reward?

This interventional trial (n=10) will investigate whether psilocybin (20mg) alters the brain’s response to food choice and reward in healthy adults.

Conducted by Monash University, with funding from both Monash and the Inside Out Institute at the University of Sydney, the study involves participants who have prior experience with classic psychedelics.

The trial will utilise fMRI scans to monitor brain activity during a food choice task at two time points: approximately one week before and on the day of administering a 20 mg oral dose of psilocybin. The scans will be accompanied by a food choice task using a “gustometer” to deliver small volumes of high or low-calorie liquid food directly into the participant’s mouth.

The study aims to assess changes in brain activation, food preferences, and subjective experiences related to psilocybin ingestion. The results could provide insights into the therapeutic application of psilocybin for eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa.

Recruitment is anticipated to start on 1 August 2024.

Topic Eating Disorders Neuroscience
Compound Psilocybin
Country Australia
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Trial Details



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Sponsors & Collaborators

Monash University
The Clinical Psychedelic Lab, established in 2020, within the Dept Psychiatry at Monash University is the first of its kind in Australia, leading the development and implementation of psychedelic therapies. The lab has played a central role in establishing the field of clinical psychedelic research in Australia.

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