Psilocybin appears to alter how the brain integrates tactile sensory inputs

A new double-blind, placebo-controlled neuroimaging study sheds light on how psilocybin alters the way in which the brain processes tactile sensations and mental representations of one’s body. The findings have been published in Cerebral Cortex.

Psilocybin, the active component in so-called “magic” mushrooms, exerts its psychological effects primarily via the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) and is known to cause alterations in self/body boundaries. But much remains to be learned about the neurocognitive processes underlying these changes in perception.

“Psilocybin and other psychedelic substances are increasingly being tested as therapeutic agents for mental illnesses. However, the clinical mechanism of action is currently unclear,” said study author Katrin Preller (@KatrinPreller) of the University of Zurich.

“Furthermore, a lot of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders experience alterations in how they perceive their bodily self. Yet, it is currently unclear how the brain produces these alterations in bodily self-perception. As psilocybin induces temporary changes in bodily self-perception, administration of psilocybin allowed us to study the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.”
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