Psilocybin intoxication did not affect daytime or sleep-related declarative memory consolidation in a small sample exploratory analysis

This re-analysis of an RCT (n=20) investigated the effects of psilocybin on memory consolidation in healthy volunteers. The study specifically examined the impact of psilocybin on memory consolidation of material learned just after the psilocybin session and on overnight memory consolidation. The results showed that psilocybin did not improve memory consolidation, but importantly, it also did not negatively affect memory consolidation.

Abstract of Psilocybin intoxication didn’t affect declarative memory consolidation

“Psilocybin is investigated as a fast-acting antidepressant used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Intact cognitive functions, including memory, are one of the basic conditions of effective psychedelic-assisted therapy. While cognitive and memory processing is attenuated on various domains during psilocybin intoxication, the effect of psilocybin on the consolidation of memories learned outside of acute intoxication is not known. Thus the main aim of the current study was to test the effects of psilocybin on (A) memory consolidation of previously learned material just after the psilocybin session and (B) on overnight memory consolidation the night just after the psilocybin session. 20 healthy volunteers (10 M/10F) were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. Effects on declarative memory consolidation in condition (A) The Groton Maze Learning Task and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test were used, and for (B) the Pair Associative Learning Test was used. We did not find psilocybin to improve memory consolidation. At the same time, we did not find psilocybin to negatively affect memory consolidation in any of the tests used. This evidence adds to the safety profile for the use of psilocybin.“

Authors: Marek Nikolič, Vojtěch Viktorin, Peter Zach, Filip Tylš, Daniela Dudysová, Karolína Janků, Jana Kopřivová, Martin Kuchař, Martin Brunovský, Jiří Horáček & Tomáš Páleníček

Summary of Psilocybin intoxication didn’t affect declarative memory consolidation

Psilocybin is investigated as a fast-acting antidepressant used in conjunction with psychotherapy. In 20 healthy volunteers, the effect of psilocybin on memory consolidation was tested just after the psilocybin session and the night after the psilocybin session.

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Psilocybin intoxication did not affect daytime or sleep-related declarative memory consolidation in a small sample exploratory analysis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.04.019

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Cite this paper (APA)

Nikolič, M., Viktorin, V., Zach, P., Tylš, F., Dudysová, D., Janků, K., ... & Páleníček, T. (2023). Psilocybin intoxication did not affect daytime or sleep-related declarative memory consolidation in a small sample exploratory analysis. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 74, 78-88.

Study details

Compounds studied
Psilocybin

Topics studied
Healthy Subjects

Study characteristics
Original Re-analysis Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Within-Subject Randomized

Participants
20 Humans

Compound Details

The psychedelics given at which dose and how many times

Psilocybin 18.2 mg | 1x