Psilocybin’s effects on cognition and creativity: A scoping review

Author: mycolabadmin
7/3/2023
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Summary

This comprehensive review examines how psilocybin affects thinking abilities and creativity. Researchers found that large doses initially impair mental performance during the experience, but small doses may enhance creativity. Importantly, the cognitive effects appear to improve after the acute effects wear off, suggesting initial impairment doesn’t cause lasting damage. The review emphasizes the need for more rigorous long-term studies to better understand psilocybin’s effects on brain function.

Background

Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic that has shown promise for treating various psychiatric conditions. Research on psilocybin’s effects on cognition and creativity has increased during the current psychedelic renaissance, but findings remain inconsistent and undersynthesized.

Objective

To report trends in publications, methods, and findings from research examining the effects of psilocybin on cognition and creativity in adults using a scoping review guided by the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis.

Results

Of 42 included studies, psilocybin was primarily administered orally (83%) in bodyweight-adjusted doses (74%) to healthy participants (90%). Acute macrodoses produced primarily negative (49%) and neutral (46%) effects on cognition and creativity, while microdoses showed creative enhancement. Post-acute effects were mostly neutral (72%) or positive (22%), suggesting initial deficits followed by recovery.

Conclusion

Psilocybin demonstrates time-based variation in effects on cognition and creativity, with acute impairment followed by potential enhancement post-acutely. Future research should employ well-validated cognitive measures at multiple timepoints, follow existing guidelines, and conduct more long-term outcome studies with clinical populations.

Published in:Journal of Psychopharmacology,
Study Type:Scoping Review,
Source: PMID: 37395359, DOI: 10.1177/02698811231179801