Randomized, single-blind, crossover neuroimaging study (n=11) comparing single-dose psilocybin 25 mg vs methylphenidate 40 mg in healthy adults to map acute and 1-week effects on functional brain networks.
This study uses precision functional mapping (PFM) and extended resting-state and task fMRI to characterise acute and sustained effects of 5-HT2A receptor agonism on cortical and cortico-subcortical networks in healthy adults.
A randomized, controlled crossover design has participants receive either psilocybin 25 mg oral capsule or methylphenidate 40 mg at two separate drug imaging sessions with a two-week washout, plus baseline and between-session imaging visits (up to five imaging sessions total).
PFM approach includes extended fMRI acquisition, aggressive data cleaning, and individual-level functional connectivity analyses to map drug-induced circuit changes and inform future clinical studies.
Participants receive 25 mg psilocybin at the first of two drug neuroimaging sessions; crossover to methylphenidate at second drug session.
Oral capsule
Active comparator: methylphenidate 40 mg (named in notes)
Participants receive 40 mg methylphenidate at the first of two drug neuroimaging sessions; crossover to psilocybin at second drug session.
Active comparator: methylphenidate 40 mg (named in notes)
Oral capsule
This randomised, cross-over study (n=7) used precision functional mapping with high-resolution multi-echo fMRI to characterise psilocybin (25mg) versus methylphenidate effects on brain networks, revealing decreased network modularity during psilocybin exposure and reproducible network changes. Participants showed unique brain configurations and reported stronger mystical experiences with psilocybin compared to methylphenidate.