Sarah Brown
Magic mushrooms have been used for religious rituals and recreation for thousands of years, but only recently have we begun to understand their impact on the human body. Mushrooms are hallucinogens that may have dangerous physical and mental side effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, and symptoms of psychosis. They alter the chemical composition of the brain's cells, resulting in a profound shift in perception and sensation. While some claim that mushrooms have therapeutic benefits, others argue that they can cause brain damage and other harmful side effects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effects on the brain | Psilocybin, a compound in mushrooms, alters brain function and emotions for up to one month after a single high dose. |
| It causes major changes in functional connectivity, or FC, throughout the brain, including the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum. | |
| It also leads to a reduction in FC between the default mode network and the hippocampus, which may reflect lasting changes in hippocampus circuits involved with the perception of self. | |
| It desynchronizes the human brain, causing activity within brain networks to become less synchronized and leading to less distinction between brain networks. | |
| It can cause a profound disturbance in brain activity patterns, scrambling relatively stable patterns. | |
| It alters the chemical composition of brain cells, producing a profound shift in perception and sensation. | |
| It dampens activity in the portion of the brain responsible for processing sensory information, leading to a mind-altering experience. | |
| It may increase emotional and brain plasticity, with potential therapeutic effects for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. | |
| It may alter a person's personality and consciousness permanently, allowing for a more relaxed life. | |
| Physical side effects | Increased heart rate and blood pressure, uncoordinated movements, and numbness. |
| In rare instances, it can lead to serious physical injury, kidney damage, and even attempted suicide. | |
| It may also cause heart damage and increase the risk of heart disease over time. | |
| It can be dangerous for teenagers, with young adults more likely to require hospitalization for mushroom intoxication. | |
| It can be difficult to identify mushrooms, and consuming the wrong type can lead to unintentional fatal poisoning. | |
| Dealers may add other substances to mushrooms, increasing the risk of damage to the brain and other organs. |
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What You'll Learn
Hallucinogenic mushrooms alter brain cells
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, shrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, have been used for religious rituals and recreation for thousands of years. While they are well-known for their mind-altering effects, recent studies have also highlighted their potential therapeutic benefits. However, it is important to recognize that these substances can have both physical and psychological side effects, and their impact on brain cells is an area of active investigation.
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in these mushrooms, has been shown to cause significant changes in brain activity patterns. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed that psilocybin disrupts the synchronization of activity within brain networks, particularly in the default mode network. This network is associated with our sense of space, time, and self, which may explain the altered perception and sensation experienced during a "trip." The effects of psilocybin on the brain can be so profound that they are detectable on brain imaging scans even weeks after ingestion.
The impact of psilocybin on emotional processing and brain plasticity has been a particular focus of research. Preliminary findings suggest that it reduces negative affect and amygdala response to negative stimuli, while enhancing positive affect and cortical responses to emotionally conflicting stimuli. These changes may underlie the potential efficacy of psilocybin in treating mood and substance use disorders, as well as conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is important to note that psilocybin can also induce psychosis-like symptoms, and its long-term effects on brain function are not yet fully understood.
While the therapeutic potential of psilocybin is promising, the recreational use of hallucinogenic mushrooms can have dangerous consequences. The psychological effects of these mushrooms can lead to harmful accidents, psychotic episodes, and, in rare cases, attempted suicide. Additionally, there are physical health risks, including increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and potential heart damage with prolonged use. Furthermore, the risk of misidentification when foraging for wild mushrooms is significant and can lead to fatal poisoning.
Overall, while hallucinogenic mushrooms may offer therapeutic benefits, particularly in the realm of mental health, they also have the capacity to alter brain cells and produce profound psychological and physiological effects. More research is needed to fully understand the long-term implications of their use and to optimize any potential therapeutic benefits.
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Psilocybin reduces negative emotions
While mushrooms have been associated with potential brain damage, the effects of psilocybin, a compound found in magic mushrooms, on emotional and brain function have been studied extensively.
Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic compound that has been shown to positively influence mood in healthy individuals. It stimulates serotonin docking sites in the limbic brain regions, which are responsible for processing emotions. This modulation of amygdala activity is directly linked to heightened moods. Psilocybin has been found to reduce negative affect and increase positive affect, thereby reducing negative emotions.
The amygdala plays a central role in processing negative emotions like anxiety and fear. If the activity of the amygdala becomes unbalanced, depression and anxiety disorders may develop. Psilocybin has been shown to influence the amygdala, thereby weakening the processing of negative stimuli. This reduction in the processing of negative stimuli is a potential mechanism for the therapeutic effects of psilocybin in treating mental health disorders.
In a study, healthy volunteers who received a dose of psilocybin showed reduced negative affect and amygdala response to facial affect stimuli one week post-psilocybin. Positive affect and responses to emotionally conflicting stimuli were increased. One month post-psilocybin, negative affect and amygdala response returned to baseline levels, while positive affect remained elevated, and trait anxiety was reduced. These findings suggest that psilocybin may increase emotional and brain plasticity, with potential efficacy in the treatment of mood and substance use disorders.
Despite these promising findings, it is important to acknowledge that mushrooms can be dangerous. The alteration of brain chemistry can be damaging, and the wrong type of mushroom can cause intense organ damage. Additionally, the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psilocybin are not yet fully understood, and further research is needed to determine the long-term impact of psilocybin on negative affect and brain function.
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Magic mushrooms can be dangerous
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a classic psychedelic compound. They have been used for religious rituals and recreation for thousands of years. However, only recently have scientists begun to understand the impact of these substances on the human body and brain.
Physical and Mental Side Effects
Magic mushrooms can cause both physical and mental side effects. The physical side effects include increased heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease over time. The mental side effects are associated with "expanding consciousness" and can include panic attacks, paranoia, and a break from reality that may lead to psychotic symptoms. In extremely rare cases, this has resulted in serious physical injury and even attempted suicide.
Long-Lasting Changes
Psilocybin alters the chemical composition of brain cells, causing a profound shift in perception and sensation. These changes can last long after the acute effects of the drug wear off. Research has shown that a single high dose of psilocybin can alter emotions and brain function for up to one month. Additionally, brain imaging studies have revealed that psilocybin causes major changes in functional connectivity throughout the brain, particularly in the default mode network, which is involved in the sense of self.
Dangerous Combinations
Magic mushrooms bought from dealers may be combined with other substances, including cocaine and PCP, which can do significant damage to the delicate brain cells. Additionally, people who choose to forage for their own mushrooms may accidentally pick the wrong type, leading to toxic effects such as kidney damage.
Risks for Teenagers
Magic mushrooms are particularly dangerous for teenagers. Adolescence is a critical time for brain development, and adding mushrooms to the mix can be harmful. While few people go to the hospital for magic mushroom intoxication, those who do are typically young.
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Brain trauma and psychosis are possible
While magic mushrooms are not physically addictive, they can cause both physical and mental side effects. The main effects of shrooms are psychological and are often associated with an expansion of consciousness. However, the dramatic changes to brain state and neuron interactions can trigger long-lasting effects.
Mushrooms with hallucinogenic properties have been used for religious rituals and recreation for thousands of years, but only in the last few decades have scientists started to understand the impact these substances can have on the human body. Hallucinogenic drugs like mushrooms alter the chemical composition of the cells of the brain, and when they are active, they produce a profound shift in perception and sensation.
Mushroom highs, known as "trips," can last for hours, and users might feel as though they have returned to a reality they both know and understand, with no lasting damage. However, these drugs can leave a big swath of chemical changes in their wake, and in some cases, these alterations can be considered both damaging and dangerous. An intensive study conducted in England suggests that mushrooms dampen activity in the portion of the mind responsible for processing sensory information. The researchers suggest that the brain is constantly taking in all sorts of data, and it processes those details to some degree before presenting information to the conscious mind. Mushrooms interrupt this pre-processing function, so each and every bit of data that could be identified by the brain is presented to the consciousness. This is responsible for the mind-altering experience people feel while they are under the influence.
People who use mushrooms may experience a panic attack, feel like they are being watched, or have a break from reality that leads them to display psychotic symptoms. In extremely rare instances, this has led to serious physical injury and even attempted suicide. Psilocybin-induced psychosis is very similar to symptoms of schizophrenia, and these symptoms usually wear off when the effects of the hallucinogen run their course.
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Microdosing for brain health
Microdosing is the practice of consuming small, sub-threshold doses of a psychedelic substance. While there is no scientific definition of a "microdose", it is typically understood to be about a tenth of a regular recreational dose. For context, a microdose of dried magic mushrooms is typically between 0.15g and 0.35g, while a microdose of LSD is between 10 and 20mcg.
The appeal of microdosing for brain health lies in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. Proponents of microdosing suggest that it can improve mental health and cognition. Some people, like Joseph, who was quoted in the New York Times, have turned to microdosing as an alternative to prescription drugs for treating depression and anxiety.
Research into the mental health benefits of full doses of psychedelics has shown promise. For example, a study found that high doses of psilocybin may be as effective as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for treating depression. Additionally, psilocybin has been shown to reduce negative affect and amygdala response to negative affective stimuli, while increasing positive affect and responses to emotionally conflicting stimuli.
However, the research on the effects of microdosing is less conclusive. One of the biggest challenges in microdosing research is isolating the effects of the substance from the placebo effect. In one study, 72% of participants correctly guessed whether they had been given the substance or a placebo, indicating that the study was no longer blinded. Additionally, the studies may not have run for long enough to capture the full range of effects.
While microdosing may offer potential benefits for brain health, it is important to approach it with caution. The most commonly reported negative side effect of microdosing is accidentally taking too much, which can be inconvenient if one is at work or in a social setting. Additionally, frequent repeated doses of psychedelics could theoretically stress the heart. Furthermore, when it comes to mushrooms specifically, there is a risk of picking the wrong type of mushroom, which could result in intense damage to the kidneys, allowing toxins to build up in the body and brain, and potentially leading to fatal consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms can cause brain damage. Hallucinogenic drugs like mushrooms alter the chemical composition of the cells of the brain, and when they’re active, they produce a profound shift in both perception and sensation.
Mushrooms contain a naturally occurring compound called psilocybin, which contributes to the hallucinogenic effects of the mushrooms. Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain and causes major changes in functional connectivity, or FC—a measure of how activity in different regions of the brain is correlated.
Mushrooms can cause both physical and mental side effects. The physical side effects include an increased heart rate and blood pressure, while the mental side effects include symptoms of psychosis, panic attacks, and a break from reality that can lead to psychotic symptoms.
Some people believe that mushrooms can be beneficial for brain health and creativity. Small clinical trials have shown that one or two doses of psilocybin, given in a therapeutic setting, can make dramatic and long-lasting changes in people suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
