Sarah Brown
Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are known to induce hallucinations and feelings of transcendence. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been found to have a lasting impact on personality. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA, wrote in the Journal of Psychopharmacology that those who consumed psilocybin were more likely to exhibit personality changes, making them more forthcoming about their feelings and more focused on creativity, curiosity, and appreciation for art. The effects of psilocybin are similar to those of mescaline and LSD, with altered senses of time, spiritual experiences, perceptual distortions, and changes in thinking processes. While the drug itself is not believed to be the root cause of personality changes, the transcendent feelings it induces are profound and can lead to a more open personality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Personality changes | Increased openness, decreased neuroticism, increased extraversion, increased conscientiousness |
| Personality traits | Openness to new ideas and values, imagination, aesthetic appreciation, novelty-seeking, non-conformity, and creativity |
| Mental health effects | Less depression, higher drug use, reduced negative mood, increased positive mood, reduced amygdala response to negative affective stimuli |
| Brain function | Altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin |
| Therapeutic uses | Treating treatment-resistant depression, helping cancer patients handle depression and anxiety, helping longtime cigarette smokers overcome their addiction |
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What You'll Learn
Mystical experiences and personality changes
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can cause lasting personality changes in individuals. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA, wrote in the Journal of Psychopharmacology that those who had mystical experiences while on psilocybin were more likely to subsequently exhibit certain personality changes. These experiences were marked by a sense of profound connectedness, along with feelings of joy, reverence, and peace.
The personality trait that changed the most was "openness", which includes traits related to imagination, aesthetics, feelings, abstract ideas, and broad-mindedness. This is consistent with reports of personality changes in relation to conventional antidepressant treatment, although the increase in extraversion and openness might be specific to psychedelic therapy. The other four broad domains of personality—neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness—were also measured, but only openness changed during the course of the study.
The intensity and quality of the psychedelic experience seem to predict the mental health effects, such as less depression. Classical psychedelics like psilocybin are psychoactive agents that share their primary effect as 5-HT2A-receptor agonists. The use of psychedelics has been linked to improved mental health and quality of life, with users reporting less depression and higher drug use. However, adverse effects on mental health are still a concern, and the possible fear or anxiety responses could lead to harmful behaviors if hallucinogens are used in less well-supervised settings.
Psilocybin has been used in religious rituals for thousands of years. Ancient paintings in Villar del Humo, Spain, show evidence of Psilocybe hispanica usage in religious ceremonies about 4,000 BC. Murals in southeast Algeria, in the Sahara desert, dated 7000 to 9000 BC, suggest psilocybin mushroom use. In the Aztec language Nahuatl, psychoactive mushrooms were called "teonanacatl," meaning "God flesh."
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Psilocybin's effects on the brain
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, has been found to produce profound and widespread changes in the brain's functional connectivity. This is a measure of how different regions of the brain interact and exchange information. The largest changes occur in the brain's default mode network, which is associated with internal thoughts, a person's sense of time, space, and self. These changes may lead to a long-lasting impact on an individual's perception of themselves and their environment.
Psilocybin works by activating the 5-HT2A receptors, which are abundant in regions such as the medial frontal lobe. This activation induces persistent plasticity-related phenomena and increases glutamate signalling and glucose metabolism in the brain. It also reduces the power of electrophysiological signals, hemodynamic fluctuations, and segregation between functional networks. The activation of these receptors may be key to the antidepressant effects of psilocybin, as increased functional connectivity between the hippocampus and the default mode network has been linked to depression symptoms.
The effects of psilocybin on the brain are not limited to its antidepressant properties. Small clinical trials have shown that one or two doses of psilocybin, administered in a therapeutic setting, can lead to dramatic and long-lasting improvements in people suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Additionally, psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and various forms of substance abuse.
The impact of psilocybin on the brain also extends to personality traits. Studies have found that psilocybin therapy can lead to changes in personality structure, with decreases in neuroticism and increases in extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness. These changes in personality traits may contribute to the reported improvements in mental health and quality of life following psilocybin-assisted therapy.
While psilocybin has shown potential therapeutic benefits, it is important to approach its use with caution. Psilocybin can cause adverse effects, such as nausea and panic attacks, and may lead to negative or frightening experiences. Therefore, it should be used under controlled conditions and with professional supervision.
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The history of psilocybin use
Psilocybin, the psychedelic drug found in magic mushrooms, has a long history of use that dates back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that indigenous cultures worldwide have recognised the spiritual and healing potential of psilocybin mushrooms, with the heartland of its history undoubtedly in Central America.
In Mesoamerica, specifically among the Aztecs, psilocybin mushrooms were known as "teonanácatl," or "flesh of the gods," and were consumed during religious ceremonies and psychedelic tea ceremonies. These rituals were designed to induce visionary states for divination, healing, and communing with the gods. Evidence of mushroom worship dates back to at least 1000 BCE, and Spanish chroniclers of the 16th century documented their use, often with fascination and horror, as they misinterpreted the rituals through the lens of their religious beliefs. Despite attempts by Spanish missionaries to suppress these traditions, the use of psychedelics in ceremonies persisted and was passed down through generations by indigenous shamans and healers.
Outside of Central America, archaeological discoveries provide evidence of psilocybin use in ancient times. Imagery in cave paintings and rock art of modern-day Algeria and Spain suggests that human use of psilocybin mushrooms predates recorded history, with murals in southeast Algeria, in the Sahara desert, dated 7000 to 9000 BCE suggesting early mushroom use. Additionally, ancient paintings in Villar del Humo, Spain, show evidence of Psilocybe hispanica usage in religious ceremonies about 4,000 BCE.
In the Old World, there is limited documentation of psilocybin mushroom usage, with only a few accounts that lack species identification. One example is Flemish botanist Carolus Clusius's description of the "bolond gomba" ("crazy mushroom") used in rural Hungary. In Europe, the most common psychedelic mushroom, Psilocybe semilanceata, was first reliably documented in 1799 when a British family inadvertently prepared a meal with these mushrooms foraged from London's Green Park.
In the mid-20th century, psilocybin gained attention in Western scientific and medical circles. In 1957, a photo-essay in a popular magazine described the use of psilocybin mushrooms by the Aztecs, sparking a search for their identity. Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann isolated psilocybin and psilocin from the mushroom Psilocybe mexicana in 1958, and his employer, Sandoz, marketed and sold pure psilocybin to physicians and clinicians worldwide for psychedelic therapy.
However, the increasing drug restrictions of the 1960s and 1970s curbed scientific research into psilocybin. In the United States, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified psilocybin as a Schedule I substance, restricting personal use and scientific research. This classification contributed to decades of legal prohibition and halted promising studies exploring its therapeutic applications.
In recent years, there has been a global shift toward decriminalisation and therapeutic legalization of psilocybin. Cities like Denver and Oakland in North America led the way, decriminalising psilocybin possession, and Oregon legalised its therapeutic use in 2020. Psilocybin is now being studied for its potential medicinal benefits in treating various psychiatric disorders and has been approved for treating treatment-resistant depression in Australia.
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Psilocybin and mental health
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been the subject of numerous studies investigating its effects on mental health and personality.
Mystical Experiences and Personality Change
Research has shown that psilocybin can induce mystical-type experiences, marked by a sense of profound connectedness, joy, reverence, and peace. These experiences can lead to increases in the personality domain of openness, which is linked to imagination, aesthetics, curiosity, and creativity. The effects of psilocybin on openness have been found to be more pronounced and long-lasting compared to typical personality changes observed in adults over decades of life experiences.
Therapeutic Potential
Psilocybin-facilitated therapy has been explored as a potential treatment for mental health disorders, including treatment-resistant depression. Studies have reported decreases in neuroticism and increases in extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness after psilocybin therapy. These changes in personality traits are similar to those observed with conventional antidepressant treatment, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin. However, more controlled studies are needed to fully understand the brain mechanisms underlying post-psychedelic personality changes.
Emotional and Brain Function Alterations
High doses of psilocybin have been found to alter emotional states and brain function. Acute effects include reduced negative mood, increased positive mood, and decreased amygdala response to negative stimuli. These effects can persist for up to one month after a single high dose. Additionally, psilocybin has been associated with enhanced mindfulness capacities and positive changes in psychological functioning, prosocial attitudes, and behaviours.
Adverse Effects and Cautions
While psilocybin has shown potential benefits for mental health, adverse effects should not be overlooked. Some individuals may experience fear or anxiety during psilocybin sessions, and unsupervised use could potentially lead to harmful behaviours. It is important to approach psilocybin use with caution and professional guidance, as the intensity and quality of the psychedelic experience can influence its effects on mental health and personality.
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Psilocybin therapy for depression
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms", has been the subject of a growing body of research over the last 20 years. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, psilocybin can alter a person's awareness of their surroundings and their thoughts and feelings.
Research has shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy, given with supportive psychotherapy, may last at least a year for some patients. In one study, researchers reported that psilocybin treatment produced large decreases in depression, and that depression severity remained low one, three, six, and 12 months after treatment. For most participants, scores for the overall treatment decreased from 22.8 at pretreatment to 8.7 at one week, 8.9 at four weeks, 9.3 at three months, 7 at six months, and 7.7 at 12 months after treatment.
Psilocybin therapy has been shown to "flatten" the brain's landscape, freeing patients from long-held patterns of rumination and excessive self-focus. This allows new thoughts, insights, and perspectives to emerge. This effect has been observed in brain scans, with psilocybin fostering greater connections between different regions of the brain.
In terms of personality, psilocybin therapy has been shown to decrease neuroticism while increasing extraversion, conscientiousness, and openness. These changes in personality are consistent with reports of personality change in relation to conventional antidepressant treatment. However, the pronounced increases in extraversion and openness may be specific to psychedelic therapy.
It is important to note that psilocybin therapy for depression should be conducted under carefully controlled conditions with structured support from trained clinicians and therapists. While it shows promise as a therapeutic approach, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of psilocybin on the brain and personality.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are fungi that contain psilocybin, a psychedelic compound that induces hallucinations and feelings of transcendence.
Magic mushrooms have been found to increase a person's level of "openness", one of the five major dimensions of personality. This includes traits related to imagination, aesthetics, curiosity, and creativity.
Researchers have found that the personality changes resulting from magic mushroom usage can last for at least a year, and perhaps even permanently.
Yes, psilocybin can cause nausea and panic attacks. Additionally, the fear or anxiety induced by the drug in a less supervised setting could lead to harmful behaviours.
