A single psilocybin dose is associated with long-term increased mindfulness, preceded by a proportional change in neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding
Burmester, D., Fisher, P. M., Knudsen, G. M., Kristiansen, S., Kuchar, M., Lehel, S., Madsen, M. K., Ozenne, B., Páleníček, T., Stenbæk, D. S., Svarer, C.
This open-label study (n=10) found a significant increase in mindfulness (MAAS) and openness (NEO PI-R) after a single high dose (14-21mg) of psilocybin.
Abstract
A single dose of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist psilocybin can have long-lasting beneficial effects on mood, personality, and potentially on mindfulness, but underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we for the first time conduct a study that assesses psilocybin effects on cerebral 5-HT2AR binding with [11C]Cimbi-36 positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and on personality and mindfulness. Ten healthy and psychedelic-naïve volunteers underwent PET neuroimaging of 5-HT2AR at baseline (BL) and one week (1W) after a single oral dose of psilocybin (0.2-0.3 mg/kg). Personality (NEO PI-R) and mindfulness (MAAS) questionnaires were completed at BL and at three-months follow-up (3M). Paired t-tests revealed statistically significant increases in personality Openness (p-uncorrected = 0.04, mean change [95%CI]: 4.2[0.4;∞]).