Microdosing Psilocybin; Effects on Stress Resiliency and Compulsive Behaviours | Dr. Mikael Palner ~ ATTMind 194
Feb 14, 2025
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Dr. Mikael Palner, an associate professor at the University of Southern Denmark, researches the effects of psilocybin microdosing on maladaptive neuropsychiatric diseases. He discusses how microdosing may enhance stress resiliency and reduce compulsive behaviors, highlighting intriguing disparities between rat and human studies. Palner emphasizes the need for caution regarding microdosing practices and the misconception that it universally boosts cognitive performance. He also explores the biological mechanisms behind psilocybin's effects, advocating for further nuanced research.
Psilocybin microdosing in rats enhances stress resiliency and protects against stress-induced anhedonia, indicating potential benefits for depression-like symptoms.
The study discovered that psilocybin microdosing may reduce compulsive behaviors similar to OCD by promoting changes in synaptic plasticity in the brain.
Discrepancies between animal and human studies highlight the complexity of microdosing effects, suggesting variable outcomes based on individual psychological conditions.
Deep dives
Psilocybin Microdoses and Stress Resiliency
Research indicates that administering psilocybin microdoses to rats may enhance their resiliency to stress-induced anhedonia, a model of depression. The study highlights that these microdoses protect rats from decreased interest in pleasurable activities, which typically results from stress. Unlike the saline-injected control group, rats receiving psilocybin maintained consistent preferences for sugar water, suggesting a potential alleviating effect on stress-induced declines in mood. This finding offers a biological mechanism that supports anecdotal claims of increased stress resiliency within human microdosing communities.
Behavioral Tests Used in Research
Several key behavioral tests were employed to ascertain the effects of psilocybin in the study, including an open field test and a sucrose preference test. The open field test assesses rats' anxiety and exploratory behavior by monitoring how much time they spend in the center versus the corners of the enclosure. Meanwhile, the sucrose preference test measures anhedonia by observing changes in sugar water consumption following stress exposure. The study found that psilocybin-injected rats exhibited reduced compulsive grooming behaviors, potentially linking microdosing to decreased compulsivity similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans.
Neuroplasticity and Compulsive Behaviors
The research addressed the neurobiological basis of compulsive behavior and how psilocybin microdosing affects synaptic plasticity within the brain. It was observed that psilocybin administration resulted in increased synaptic connections in the region of the thalamus associated with approach and avoidance behaviors. This suggests that microdosing may facilitate changes in behavioral patterns that conflict between urges to engage in compulsive actions and the desire to resist them. As these effects on neuroplasticity are documented, the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin for disorders like OCD and depression gain further validation.
Placebo Effects in Human Microdosing Research
The discussion emphasized discrepancies between animal and human studies regarding the effects of microdosing. While animal studies show biological effects from psilocybin, human trials often fail to confirm the same outcomes, with many suggesting mere placebo responses. This raises the hypothesis that individuals with existing psychological challenges may benefit more from microdosing compared to those in optimal mental health. The variability in individual responses and reporting biases in human trials complicate interpretations of microdosing efficacy.
The Importance of Specificity in Psychedelic Research
The conversation highlighted the importance of differentiating between various psychedelics and their distinct pharmacological effects. It was noted that each psychedelic compound—such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline—interacts differently with serotonin receptors and exhibits unique behavioral impacts. This distinction is critical not only for understanding their individual potential therapeutic uses but also for improving clinical research methodologies. Ultimately, the specificity in drug classification could lead to better-targeted treatments for depression, anxiety, and compulsive disorders.
Dr. Mikael Palner is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Southern Denmark, studying the biological correlates of maladaptive neuropsychiatric diseases—such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome.
He joins us to discuss his research on the positive effects of psilocybin microdosing on stress resiliency, compulsions, and neuroplasticity; as well as what microdosing IS NOT good for, and some important cautions to consider with respect to potential harms of microdosing.
We also discuss why studies in rats show clear biological effects of microdosing on behaviour, but human studies seem to suggest placebo; a neural level definition of psychedelic microdosing; why microdosing research is being polluted by a lack of specificity; the value of the “psychedelic” effect of psychedelics in their use as a medicine; and why what rats need higher doses of psychedelics than human by weight.