11/01/2026
This is a fascinating article.
Neurologist takes high-dose psilocybin, and scans his brain as it rewires itself
In a striking blend of self-experimentation and neuroscience, Washington University neurologist Nico Dosenbach volunteered as both researcher and subject in a study of psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms.”
As part of a small trial with seven adults, Dosenbach received either a high 25-milligram dose of psilocybin or a placebo-like dose of the stimulant Ritalin, then repeatedly underwent MRI scans—around 18 times before, during, and up to three weeks after dosing. Blinded at first to which drug he had taken, he reported a vivid shift in consciousness, describing his thoughts as “computer thoughts” and recognizing this as an altered but not frightening state. The work, published in Nature, aimed to understand how psychedelics can so powerfully distort perceptions of self, time, and space while also showing promise as psychiatric treatments.
The scans revealed that psilocybin temporarily “desynchronizes” the brain’s default mode network, a key system involved in self-referential thinking, daydreaming, and autobiographical memory. According to lead author Joshu Siegel, this short-term disruption appears to produce the psychedelic experience while also boosting longer-term brain plasticity, potentially making neural networks more flexible and less locked into rigid, negative thought patterns. Subtle changes in connectivity persisted for weeks—a profile Dosenbach described as ideal for a medicine: a strong but transient acute effect followed by a smaller, enduring shift rather than prolonged disruption. While the findings offer a hopeful glimpse into how psilocybin might help people break maladaptive mental habits, the researchers emphasize that such interventions should occur in controlled, professional settings, not through self-medication.
References (APA style)
Landymore, F. (2024, July 20). Scientist takes high dose of psilocybin, clambers into MRI machine to scan his own brain. Futurism.
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. (2024). Mushrooms generate psychedelic experience by disrupting brain network [Press release].
