Brain scans of people under the influence ofpsilocibina, the active ingredienthallucinogenic “magic mushrooms”, has provided scientists with the most detailed picture to date of how psychedelic drugs work at the brain level. The findings are published this week in two scientific journals (PNAS YBritish Journal of Psychiatry) and reveal that, far from increasing neuronal activity, this substance deactivates certain areas of the brain.
? We tend to think that psychedelic drugs ‘expand the mind’ and that, therefore, they should act by increasing brain activity; but surprisingly psilocybin does the opposite:reduces activity in areas of the brain that have denser connections to other regions of gray matter? explains David Nutt, who is responsible for both studies. These are the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex, involved in consciousness. “These centersthey somewhat control our experience of the world and keep it in order“Specifies Nutt. Therefore, adds the researcher, it is logical that” deactivating these regions leads toa state in which the world around us is perceived strangely“The effects reported by the participants in the experiment, including vision of geometric patterns, unusual body sensations and an altered perception of space and time are related to the lack of oxygenation and blood flow in these areas.
On the other hand, the brain areas affected by the consumption of magic mushrooms are hyperactivated in people suffering from depression, which explains why psilocybin is attributedantidepressant effects. In addition, psilocybin reduces blood flow in the hypothalamus, where blood accumulates in cases of migraine, which explains why this substance can also relieve headaches.
