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Huberman Lab
How Psilocybin Can Rewire Our Brain, Its Therapeutic Benefits & Its Risks
May 8, 2023
02:05:23
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Quick takeaways
- Psilocybin induces neuroplasticity in our brain, leading to long-lasting shifts in emotional, cognitive, and behavioral patterns.
- Setting, mindset, and support are crucial in ensuring safety and effectiveness during a psilocybin journey.
- Psilocybin broadens sensory information flow and activates brain circuitry in a less precise and more interconnected manner, resulting in the unique experiences reported during a psilocybin journey.
- Psilocybin expands brain connectivity, leading to new ideas, improved functioning, and long-term changes in individuals' lives.
- Psilocybin therapy can enhance emotional response to music, allowing individuals with depression to experience joy and alleviating depressiveness triggered by certain songs.
Deep dives
Psilocybin and its effects on consciousness
Psilocybin, a psychedelic substance, alters our level of consciousness and perception. It not only affects our thoughts and feelings but also induces long-lasting changes even after the psychedelic experience has ended. The potential therapeutic use of psilocybin for mental health issues like depression, addiction, and eating disorders is generating excitement in the medical field.
Understanding the chemistry and mechanism of psilocybin
Psilocybin, the main active compound found in psilocybin mushrooms, mimics serotonin and selectively activates serotonin 2A receptors in the brain. By binding to these receptors, psilocybin induces neuroplasticity in neural circuits related to memory and perception. This neural rewiring may be responsible for the profound changes in consciousness experienced during a psilocybin journey.
The importance of set and setting in a psilocybin journey
The mindset and setting play crucial roles in the safety and effectiveness of a psilocybin journey. Setting refers to creating a safe and controlled environment, where experienced individuals are present to ensure the person remains safe and supported. Additionally, using an eye mask and playing carefully selected music enhances the introspective experience and guides the emotions and perceptions during the journey.
The subjective experience and neural effects of psilocybin
Psilocybin induces synesthesia and perceptual blending, where different senses blend and merge together. This is attributed to increased communication between brain regions and a reduction in hierarchical organization. Psilocybin broadens the flow of sensory information and activates brain circuitry in a less precise and more interconnected manner. These effects contribute to the unique and profound experiences reported during a psilocybin journey.
Psilocybin induces expanded brain connectivity
Psilocybin, a psychedelic substance, expands the functional connectivity of the brain by allowing more extensive communication between brain areas. This expansion of connectivity is not only observed during the psilocybin session but also persists after the effects of the substance have worn off. Research suggests that the rewiring of brain networks induced by psilocybin leads to new ideas, new ways of thinking, and improved functioning in individuals' lives.
Psilocybin enhances emotional response to music
Psilocybin therapy has been found to increase low-frequency brain responses to music, leading to positive changes in emotional response. The drug can enhance the emotional and pleasurable aspects of music, even after the effects of psilocybin have subsided. This effect is particularly significant for individuals with depression, as it can allow them to experience joy in response to music again and decrease the depressiveness or sadness triggered by certain songs.
Psilocybin experiences and therapeutic outcomes
Positive therapeutic outcomes of psilocybin therapy are associated with specific experiences during the psychedelic journey. These experiences include feelings of oceanic boundlessness and ego dissolution. Research suggests that the intensity of the mystical experience and the sense of unity and connectedness are positively correlated with positive therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, the quality of the acute psychedelic experience, including spiritual and blissful states, has a significant impact on the effectiveness of psilocybin as a treatment for depression.
The importance of letting go during the psilocybin journey
Letting go and experiencing ego dissolution during the peak of a psilocybin journey is a crucial aspect for an effective therapeutic session. Although the peak phase can be uncomfortable and induce anxiety, it is necessary to guide oneself through this challenging period to achieve positive therapeutic outcomes. However, it is important to note that extremely high levels of anxiety can be negatively correlated with a positive therapeutic outcome. Well-trained guides who understand the psychedelic journey and can help individuals manage their anxiety in real-time play a crucial role in ensuring a successful session.
The therapeutic potential of psilocybin for depression
Psilocybin has shown promise in providing relief for major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and cancer-related depression and anxiety. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the effects of psilocybin in combination with supportive psychotherapy are more efficacious than conventional antidepressant medications or psychotherapy alone. While 60 to 75% of individuals with major depressive disorder report positive experiences and significant relief from depression after two sessions of psilocybin therapy, it's important to approach psilocybin treatment with caution and under the guidance of trained professionals. Further research is needed to fully understand the neuroplasticity and mechanisms of action underlying the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin.
In this episode, I discuss what psilocybin is (chemically) and how it works at the cellular and neural circuit level to trigger neuroplasticity, which is our brain’s ability to rewire itself in ways that lead to long-lasting shifts in our emotional, cognitive and behavioral patterns and abilities. I discuss the emerging clinical trial evidence for the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression, addictions and other psychiatric challenges. I explain the typical duration and phases of a psilocybin journey, the different categories of dosages often used and I explain the importance of set, setting and support when using psychedelics. I explain which groups of people place themselves at great risk by taking psilocybin as well as groups that could benefit, and I highlight the rapidly changing legal and medical landscape around psilocybin. This episode is a thorough exploration of psilocybin from the scientific and clinical literature perspective and ought to be of interest to anyone curious about psilocybin, mental health, neuroplasticity and/or psychedelics more generally.
For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
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Waking Up: https://www.wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman
Timestamps
(00:00:00) Psilocybin, Legal Considerations
(00:08:48) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up
(00:12:00) Psilocybin Becomes Psilocin in the Gut, Serotonin
(00:17:00) The Serotonin 2A Receptor, Therapeutic Outcomes SSRIs vs. Psilocybin
(00:21:40) Serotonin Receptor Expression; Visual Hallucinations & Eyes Closed
(00:26:02) Sponsor: AG1
(00:27:21) Safety & Cautions for Specific Patient Populations
(00:30:28) Psilocybin, “Magic Mushrooms” Dosing, Micro-Dosing, “Heroic Doses”
(00:36:21) Psychedelic Journey: Set, Setting & Support
(00:43:43) Music & the Psilocybin Journey; Duration of Effects
(00:48:58) Psilocybin & the Brain: Subjective Experiences, Perception
(00:59:48) Brain Networks & Therapeutic Outcomes
(01:05:23) Creativity; Music, Emotionality & Psychedelic Journeys
(01:12:39) Depression & Psychedelics as Neuroplasticity “Wedge”
(01:16:53) Positive Psychedelic Journeys, Unity, “Oceanic Boundlessness”
(01:25:23) “Bad Trips”, Anxiety & Physiological Sighs
(01:32:57) Therapeutic Use of Psilocybin
(01:36:11) Neuroplasticity, Structural Brain Changes & Psilocybin
(01:48:08) Psychedelics: Therapeutic Breakthroughs & Depression
(01:56:37) Combining Psilocybin Therapy & Talk Therapy, Antidepressant Effects
(02:03:11) Psilocybin Experience & Mental Health
(2:06:42) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac
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