A new study from University of California, San Francisco and Imperial College London researchers (on 28 healthy participants who had never taken psilocybin) found that a single high dose of the mushroom caused anatomical and functional changes in brain structure still visible a month later—a finding that researchers called “remarkable.” Special scans indicated that some brain nerve tracts had become denser and more robust after the drug was taken. Although the findings are preliminary, the scientists noted the opposite changes in aging and dementia. Those taking the single dose also showed greater cognitive flexibility, psychological insight, and overall wellbeing a month later. These long-term anatomical brain changes may explain the positive effects that psilocybin has been shown to have on anxiety, depression and addiction.
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