The brains of people under the influence of psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic “magic” mushrooms and truffles, respond fundamentally differently to visual stimuli. This discovery was made by neuroscientist Marco Aqil. Until now, no neuroscientific research involving psychedelic substances had been conducted in Amsterdam.
Aqil is fascinated by the human brain and how psychedelic substances affect it. The neuroscientist combined these interests in his research on how our brains respond to visual stimuli. First, he developed a mathematical model able to capture a variety of brain responses with a single equation.
He then turned his focus to his other fascination: the effects of psychedelic substances on the brain. “Although Amsterdam is home to countless smartshops selling psychedelic “magic truffles”, no scientific research on these substances had ever been done here” says the Italian scientist. This was no easy task. While truffles are legal, psilocybin itself is illegal, and the study had to meet stringent medical and ethical standards. Eventually, twenty individuals with prior experience with psychedelics were selected for the research.
During the study, all participants underwent three sessions in which they were administered placebo, 5 milligrams, and 10 milligram of psilocybin in random order. While inside an MRI scanner, they performed visual tests. The findings revealed that participants who had taken psilocybin displayed different brain responses. “We observed that visual surround suppression was diminished by psilocybin. Normally, brain responses to visual stimuli are suppressed by stimuli presented in the surround. In other words, they undergo a contextual, suppressive modulation. But under psilocybin, this effect was reduced. We saw altered brain activity in the visual system.”
This aligns with anecdotal reports from users of these substances, who often describe experiencing “freer thoughts” and more associative, less suppressed thinking. According to Aqil, the study demonstrates that psychedelics alter how the brain functions in very fundamental ways. “It contributes to a broader understanding of what these substances, which are increasingly used in psychological treatments, actually do in the human brain.”
Marco Aqil defends his PhD January 23th.
Foto: Natasha Connell