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Home/Research/Psilocybin/Creativity

Psilocybin for Creativity

25 papers and 3 clinical trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for creativity.

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

Full Psilocybin profile
Indication300 million adults struggling with creative blocks globally.

Creativity

Psychedelics have emerged as potential enhancers of creativity, influencing both divergent and convergent thinking processes. Current research indicates their capacity to disrupt cognitive rigidity and promote innovative thought patterns, warranting further exploration into their therapeutic and recreational applications.

Full Creativity profile

Academic Research

25 papers
Paywallindividual

Cognitive and Subjective Effects of Psilocybin Microdosing: Results from Two Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Longitudinal Trials

This set of two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (n=141) investigated the longitudinal effects of microdosing psilocybin truffles on cognition and well-being in semi-naturalistic settings. Contrary to anecdotal reports, the study finds no significant improvements in cognitive control, memory, social cognition, or subjective well-being compared with placebo.

Published
February 1, 2026
Journal
Neuropharmacology
Authors
Prochazkova, L., Marschall, J., Lippelt, D. P., Schon, N. R., Kuchař, M., Hommel, B.
Open Accessindividual

Microdosing psychedelics and its effect on creativity: Lessons learned from three double-blind placebo controlled longitudinal trials

This combined analysis (n=175) of three double-blind placebo-controlled longitudinal experiments investigated the effects of microdosing psilocybin (0.74 -; 1.71mg) on creativity and found that it increased the originality of their ideas while generating novel applications for ordinary things (divergent thinking). However, it did not increase the number of novel ideas, or their ability to detect features that are common across multiple things (convergent thinking).

Published
November 2, 2025
Journal
Neuropsychopharmacology
Authors
Prochazkova, L., van Elk, M., Marschall, J., Rifkin, B. D., Fiacchino, D., Fejer, G., Hommel, B., Schoen, N.
Open Accessindividual

Salience, Sensemaking, and Setting in Psilocybin Microdosing: Methodological Lessons and Preliminary Findings of a Mixed Method Qualitative Study

Using momentary ecological assessment and retrospective interviews, the study found psilocybin microdosing was associated with loosening of mental structures, increased salience of external stimuli, greater cognitive flexibility but reduced cognitive stability and occasional ego-dystonic content, with highly structured environments tending to produce more positive appraisals. Crucially, momentary and retrospective reports were often diametrically opposed, highlighting methodological biases and the need for systematic mixed-methods studies to accurately characterise the lived experience of microdosing.

Published
March 20, 2024
Journal
OSF Preprints
Authors
Oblak, A., Korošec Hudnikr, L., Levačić, A., Elersič, K., Pregelj, P., Bon, J.
Paywallmeta

The risk of chronic psychedelic and MDMA microdosing for valvular heart disease

This review (2023) covers in vitro, animal, and clinical studies to assess the potential risk of valvular heart disease (VHD) from microdosing psychedelic substances, focusing on LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, and MDMA due to their interaction with the serotonin 5-HT2B receptor. Findings show that all these compounds, except mescaline (due to low potency), were partial agonists at the 5-HT2B receptor. While safety margins from typical microdoses were greater than known valvulopathogens, there remains a potential risk. No studies directly evaluated VHD risk for the four psychedelics, but some evidence suggests chronic ingestion of full doses of MDMA might be linked to VHD.

Published
August 12, 2023
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Tagen, M., Mantuani, D., Van Heerden, L., Holstein, A., Klumpers, L. E., Knowles, R.
Open Accessmeta

Psilocybin’s effects on cognition and creativity: A scoping review

This review (s=42 studies) offers an overview of the effects of psilocybin on cognition and creativity. It was found that shortly after the intake of psilocybin, cognition and creativity are impaired, especially with higher doses, but these effects diminish over time and some positive effects may emerge.

Published
July 3, 2023
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Bonnieux, J. N., VanderZwaag, B., Premji, Z., Garcia-Romeu, A., Garcia-Barrera, M. A.
Open Accessindividual

Psychedelic integration challenges: Participant experiences after a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands

In a qualitative study of 30 participants at a three‑day legal psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands, nine (30%) spontaneously reported transient post‑experience integration challenges—such as mood fluctuations, “post‑ecstatic blues,” disconnection from community, re‑experiencing, spiritual bypass and perceived lack of support—that arose immediately or within weeks and resolved over time. These challenges were associated with positive long‑term health effects and echo the “spiritual emergency” literature, highlighting the need for robust integration and harm‑reduction practices in psychedelic settings.

Published
January 16, 2023
Journal
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
Authors
Lutkajtis, A., Evans, J.

Clinical Trials

3 trials
RecruitingPhase I/II

Effects of Psilocybin on Electrophysiology and the Dynamic Content of Thought

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, full cross-over trial (n=30) will study the effects of psilocybin (10mg/70kg) on brain activity and thought dynamics in healthy volunteers.

Started
March 3, 2022
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05301608
CompletedPhase NA

Naturalistic Study of Microdosing With Psilocybin (NATMICRO)

Placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized naturalistic microdosing study (n=34) testing two 0.5 g dried Psilocybe cubensis sessions versus matched placebo in healthy microdosing volunteers with EEG, cognitive, behavioural and self-report outcomes.

Started
January 20, 2021
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05160220
Not yet recruiting

Psilocybin as a tool for enhancing cognitive flexibility

This interventional trial (n=60), conducted by the University Maastricht (UM), investigates the effects of psilocybin (12mg/70kg) on cognitive flexibility, specifically divergent thinking and goal-directed behaviour.

Started
May 1, 2017
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NL6007

Explore further

Search all Psilocybin papers Search all Creativity trials Full Psilocybin profile Full Creativity profile