The Acute Effects of Psilocybin on Cognition, Memory, and Brain Function

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (n=48) will study the effects of psilocybin (15 mg) on memory, cognition, and brain function in healthy adults. Participants will receive both psilocybin and placebo in separate sessions, in counterbalanced order, with testing involving computerised cognitive tasks and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans.

The study, led by Manoj Doss at the University of Texas at Austin, aims to better understand how psilocybin influences memory accuracy, thinking processes, and related brain activity.

By using recognition memory tests (where participants distinguish between previously seen and new images) alongside fMRI measures of neural activity, the researchers hope to identify how psilocybin alters the way the brain encodes and retrieves information. Findings may help to minimise risks and optimise potential benefits in future therapeutic applications of psilocybin. Participants will be healthy adults aged 21–45 with some prior psychedelic experience, and results will contribute to both basic neuroscience and clinical research planning.

Topic Neuroscience Healthy Subjects
Compound Psilocybin Placebo
Country United States of America
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Sponsors & Collaborators

University of Texas at Austin
The Centre for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at UTA will explore the use of psycedelics for treating a number of mental disorders. The research team are focusing on PTSD in veterans and those who've experienced early childhood trauma.

Data attribution

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