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Acute effects of psilocybin on attention and executive functioning in healthy volunteers: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis

Summary

This comprehensive review examined how psilocybin affects thinking and attention. Researchers analyzed 13 studies and found that psilocybin slows down reaction times during tasks requiring focus and decision-making, though accuracy remains relatively stable. The effects increase with higher doses. Understanding these cognitive changes is important for both therapeutic applications and ensuring safe use of psilocybin in research and clinical settings.

Background

Psilocybin shows therapeutic promise for neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. However, there is limited insight into its acute effects on cognitive functions, particularly executive functions which play a significant role in daily functioning and treatment efficacy.

Objective

This meta-analysis quantifies the acute effects of psilocybin on executive functions and attention, while examining how dosage, timing of administration, cognitive domain, and task characteristics moderate these effects.

Results

Thirteen studies with 42 effect sizes were included. Psilocybin increased reaction times (Hedges’ g = 1.13) in a dose-dependent manner but did not significantly affect accuracy. Task sensitivity to executive functions moderated reaction time effects. Significant between-study heterogeneity was found, and publication bias was evident but the overall effect remained significant after adjustment.

Conclusion

Psilocybin impairs executive functions and slows reaction times acutely. The effects are dose-dependent and vary by cognitive domain. Understanding these acute cognitive effects is important for safe use in clinical and experimental contexts and for elucidating psilocybin’s mechanisms of action in therapeutic applications.
  • Published in:Psychopharmacology (Berl),
  • Study Type:Meta-analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 39847068, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06742-2
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