Naturalistic Study of Microdosing With Psilocybin

NCT ID: NCT05160220

Last Updated: 2021-12-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

34 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-01-20

Study Completion Date

2021-10-01

Brief Summary

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This study seeks to understand the neural, cognitive and behavioral effects of low doses of psilocybin administered in the form of dried mushroom material (0.5 g of Psilocybe cubensis) consumed in natural settings following a placebo-controlled double-blind experimental design.

Detailed Description

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Sub-threshold doses of serotonergic psychedelics are frequently consumed as cognitive enhancers, and due to their purported positive effects on mood, energy and creativity ("microdosing").

The acute and short-term effects of psilocybin (the psychoactive compound of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms) on several variables will be investigated, comprising spontaneous and evoked electrophysiological brain activity, perception and cognitive function (cognitive flexibility, attention, inhibitory control, conscious access, visual perception), creativity (problem solving, divergent and convergent thinking), behavior (actigraphy and sleep patterns, natural language production) and several domains related to well-being and mental health of the participants.

This study is simultaneously naturalistic (i.e. recruited subjects are intrinsically motivated to microdose, as they have decided to embark in a microdosing protocol) and controlled by expectations, following a double-blind placebo-controlled design. Participants will microdose according to the following schedule:

Two sessions (0.5 g dried Psilocybin mushrooms vs. dried edible mushroom material without psychoactive effects as a placebo condition) will be conducted. A third party will be in charge of generating their active dose and placebo capsules, and they will also implement a blinding procedure.

Each session will span one week of measurements. Subjects will be given a smartwatch to monitor activity and sleeping patterns at the beginning of the week. At days 3 and 5, subjects will take capsules with active mushroom material or placebo, and then several variables will be recorded. Experiments will be conducted in a setting that is natural and comfortable for the participants, e.g. their homes.

The main outcome measures consist of resting state activity recorded with EEG, evoked response potentials and performance during cognitive tasks, behavioral variables obtained with actigraphy and automated sleep scoring, natural language analysis, and several measurs self-reported via standarized questionnaires.

After completion, this study will provide direct evidence concerning the efficacy of microdosing for cognitive enhancement under natural conditions, i.e. those most frequently used by individuals who microdose, as well as provide information concerning the potential underlying neurobiological mechanisms.

Conditions

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Cognitive Change Creativity Mood Change Sleep

Keywords

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psilocybin psychedelics nootropics microdosing EEG cognition creativity behavior sleep

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Psilocybe cubensis

0.5 g dried and powdered P. cubensis in gel capsules, dosing on two separate days, separated by one week from the placebo, randomized order.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Psilocybin

Intervention Type DRUG

0.5 g dried Psilocybe cubensis mushroom material, 0.8 mg psilocybin.

Inactive placebo

Same weight of inactive placebo in gel capsules, dosing on two separate days, separated by one week from the placebo, randomized order.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

0.5 g dried edible non-psychoactive mushroom material.

Interventions

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Psilocybin

0.5 g dried Psilocybe cubensis mushroom material, 0.8 mg psilocybin.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

0.5 g dried edible non-psychoactive mushroom material.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Men and woman with more than 21 years.
2. Participans are planning to microdose using their own dried mushroom material and adhere to the experimental protocol.
3. No active psychiatric conditions requiring treatment with psychotropic medications.
4. Able to provide informed consent.

Excusion Criteria:

1. Use of psychotropic medication during the study, including stimulants such as caffeine.
2. Prior adverse reactions to psychedelics according to the Challenging Experiences Questionnaire administered during initial screening.
3. Pregnant women or women during lactation
4. History of high or low blood pressure or other cardiovascular risks.
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Council of Scientific and Technical Research, Argentina

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Enzo Tagliazucchi

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Enzo Tagliazucchi, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National Council of Scientific and Technical Research, Argentina

Locations

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Instituto de Fisica de Buenos Aires (IFIBA)

Buenos Aires, , Argentina

Site Status

Countries

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Argentina

Other Identifiers

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001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id