This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects study (n=17) investigated the effects of psilocybin (18.2mg/70kg) on brain rhythms during sleep and found that it increased the transition period from wakefulness to REM sleep and reduced the duration of the REM period. These results are in line with the effects of other antidepressants and diametrically opposed to biomarkers of depression that include shortened wakefulness to REM transitions and increased REM duration and density.
Abstract
“Introduction: Serotonergic agonist psilocybin is a psychedelic with antidepressant potential. Sleep may interact with psilocybin’s antidepressant properties like other antidepressant drugs via induction of neuroplasticity. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of psilocybin on sleep architecture on the night after psilocybin administration. Regarding the potential antidepressant properties, we hypothesized that psilocybin, similar to other classical antidepressants, would reduce rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and prolong REM sleep latency. Moreover, we also hypothesized that psilocybin would promote slow-wave activity (SWA) expression in the first sleep cycle, a marker of sleep-related neuroplasticity.
Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers (10 women, age 28–53) underwent two drug administration sessions, psilocybin or placebo, in a randomized, double-blinded design. Changes in sleep macrostructure, SWA during the first sleep cycle, whole night EEG spectral power across frequencies in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM sleep, and changes in subjective sleep measures were analyzed.
Results: The results revealed prolonged REM sleep latency after psilocybin administration and a trend toward a decrease in overall REM sleep duration. No changes in NREM sleep were observed. Psilocybin did not affect EEG power spectra in NREM or REM sleep when examined across the whole night. However, psilocybin suppressed SWA in the first sleep cycle. No evidence was found for sleep-related neuroplasticity, however, a different dosage, timing, effect on homeostatic regulation of sleep, or other mechanisms related to antidepressant effects may play a role.
Discussion: Overall, this study suggests that potential antidepressant properties of psilocybin might be related to changes in sleep.”
Authors: Daniela Dudysová, Karolina Janků, Michal Šmotek, Elizaveta Saifutdinova, Jana Kopřivová, Jitka Bušková, Bryce Anthony Mander, Martin Brunovský, Peter Zach, Jakub Korčák, Veronika Andrashko, Michaela Viktorinová, Filip Tylš, Anna Bravermanová, Tom Froese, Tomáš Páleníček & Jiří Horáček
Summary of The Effects of Daytime Psilocybin Administration on Sleep: Implications for Antidepressant Action
Introduction
Psilocybin, a psychoactive component of psychedelic mushrooms, acts as an agonist of serotonergic 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A/C receptors, leading to altered states of consciousness and long-term positive changes in well-being and mood in both healthy and psychiatric subjects.
Psilocybin has been shown to have antidepressant effects via 5-HT2A receptors, and this mechanism is restored by antidepressant treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or electroconvulsive therapy.
Find this paper
The Effects of Daytime Psilocybin Administration on Sleep: Implications for Antidepressant Action
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389%2Ffphar.2020.602590
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Study details
Compounds studied
Psilocybin
Topics studied
Neuroscience
Depression
Study characteristics
Original Re-analysis
Placebo-Controlled
Double-Blind
Within-Subject
Randomized
Re-analysis
Participants
17
Humans
Authors
Authors associated with this publication with profiles on Blossom
Tomáš PáleníčekTomas Palinek is a researcher and psychiatrist in the Czech Republic where he studies a variety of psychedelics at the NIHM.
Compound Details
The psychedelics given at which dose and how many times
Psilocybin 18.2 mg | 1xLinked Research Papers
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