Emily Johnson
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are psychedelic drugs that contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance. While some people tout the benefits of mushrooms for brain health, the abuse of mushrooms can have damaging and dangerous effects on the brain. Mushrooms alter the chemical composition of the brain's cells, resulting in a profound shift in perception and sensation. The psilocybin in mushrooms binds to and activates serotonin receptors in parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. The alteration of serotonin, a key chemical in the brain, can lead to heart difficulties and overheating. Additionally, the risk of a bad trip increases with higher doses or underlying anxiety, leading to disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and unpredictable behaviour. The abuse of mushrooms can also lead to kidney damage, allowing toxins to build up in the body and the brain, which can be fatal. Furthermore, the combination of mushrooms with other substances or the consumption of the wrong type of mushroom can cause significant damage to the brain. While the therapeutic effects of psilocybin are being explored, particularly in the treatment of depression and anxiety, the long-term impact on negative affect and associated brain function has not been extensively studied.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hallucinogenic substances in mushrooms | Psilocybin, serotonin, mescaline, DMT, LSD |
| Effects | Profound disturbance, altered perception and sensation, distorted sense of space, time and self, disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, panic, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased body temperature, increased creativity, increased emotional and brain plasticity, reduced amygdala response to negative stimuli, reduced negative affect, increased positive affect, reduced trait anxiety, increased functional connectivity, loss of synchrony in the default mode network, reduced communication between the default mode network and the hippocampus |
| Health risks | Kidney damage, fatal poisoning, toxic substances, injury, poisoning, addiction, overheating, heart difficulties, changes in personality, bad trips, unpredictable behaviour |
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What You'll Learn
- Hallucinogens like mushrooms alter brain cells' chemical composition
- Dealers may add substances to mushrooms, causing brain cell damage
- Magic mushrooms can cause unpredictable, dangerous behaviour
- Serotonin alterations can change the way the brain works
- A single dose of magic mushrooms can change a person's personality
Hallucinogens like mushrooms alter brain cells' chemical composition
Psilocybin causes major changes in functional connectivity (FC), or how activity in different regions of the brain is correlated. These regions include most of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum. The changes in FC are more than three times greater than those caused by a control compound, methylphenidate. Psilocybin induces the largest changes in areas involved in the default mode network, which is usually most active when the brain is not focused on a specific task. This network is thought to govern people's sense of space, time, and self.
Psilocybin also desynchronizes the human brain, causing activity within brain networks to become less synchronized and leading to less distinction between brain networks that normally show distinct activity. A reduction in communication between the default mode network and the anterior hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for memory and perceptions of space and time, lasted for three weeks after a dose of psilocybin. This may reflect lasting changes in hippocampus circuits involved with the perception of self.
The effects of psilocybin vary widely, and adverse side effects are often mild or moderate and may resolve with time. However, hallucinogenic drugs may cause unpredictable, potentially dangerous behavior, which can lead to injuries. Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. Alterations in the chemical serotonin may lead to heart difficulties and overheating.
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Dealers may add substances to mushrooms, causing brain cell damage
While magic mushrooms are considered potentially dangerous on their own, dealers who sell these drugs often choose to make them more potent by adding other substances. These combinations could cause significant damage to the brain's delicate cells, and it may be challenging for users to understand or control the changes that occur when these other elements are present in the mushrooms they consume.
Dealers may sell magic mushrooms in the form of powder or tablets/capsules, and these may contain other dangerous substances. The added substances can increase the potency of the mushrooms, enhancing the risk of serious side effects and adverse events. For example, consuming mushrooms with substances such as cannabis, amphetamines, or alcohol can elevate the risk of harmful side effects.
Furthermore, the act of consuming mushrooms itself can lead to short-term mental and physical effects. Magic mushrooms may cause heightened emotions and senses, with users experiencing happiness, creativity, and a sense of mental and emotional clarity. However, they may also induce hallucinations and distort an individual's sense of reality, leading them to see and hear things that are not there or mix up their senses.
The active ingredients in magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. While psilocybin is not considered addictive, users may experience disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and short-term psychosis.
In addition to the immediate risks, research suggests that regularly altering serotonin levels through mushroom consumption could change the way the brain works in the long term. A single dose of magic mushrooms can cause a profound shift in both perception and sensation, and these chemical changes can be damaging and dangerous. An intensive study conducted in England found that mushrooms dampen activity in the portion of the brain responsible for processing sensory information.
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Magic mushrooms can cause unpredictable, dangerous behaviour
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms containing psilocybin, can cause unpredictable and dangerous behaviour. While psilocybin is currently not considered addictive, users may experience disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic after taking the drug. The risk of a "bad trip" may increase if a person takes higher doses of psilocybin or has feelings of anxiety before taking it.
Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. These parts of the brain affect mood, cognition, and perception. Psilocybin may cause visual or auditory hallucinations and may distort how some people who use the drug perceive objects and people in their environment.
A single dose of psilocybin can cause major changes in functional connectivity (FC) in the brain, or how activity in different regions of the brain is correlated. These regions include most of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum. The changes were more than three times greater than those caused by a control compound, methylphenidate. Psilocybin induced the largest changes in areas involved in the default mode network, which is involved in creating a sense of self and perception of space and time.
In addition to the risks associated with the effects of psilocybin on the brain, there are also risks associated with the consumption of magic mushrooms themselves. Dealers may add other substances to magic mushrooms to make them more potent, which could damage the delicate cells of the brain. Additionally, people who choose to forage for their own mushrooms may accidentally pick the wrong type of mushroom, which could lead to unintentional fatal poisoning.
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Serotonin alterations can change the way the brain works
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger that carries signals between nerve cells in the brain (central nervous system) and the rest of the body (peripheral nervous system). It is involved in regulating several bodily functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, digestion, body temperature, sexual behaviour, and heart rate. Serotonin is often referred to as the body's natural "feel-good" chemical, as normal levels of serotonin are associated with improved focus, emotional stability, happiness, and calmness.
Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, anxiety, mania, and other health conditions. Serotonin alterations can change the way the brain works, and this is a key concern regarding the consumption of mushrooms. Mushrooms alter the chemical composition of brain cells, resulting in a profound shift in perception and sensation. These alterations can be considered damaging and dangerous, as they can lead to a range of physical and psychological symptoms.
Research suggests that regular interference with serotonin levels through mushroom consumption could result in long-term changes in how the brain functions. A single dose of magic mushrooms, for example, has been shown to change a user's personality for a year or longer. This is likely due to the impact of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, on serotonin levels in the brain. Psilocybin causes significant changes in functional connectivity, or FC, in the brain, which measures how activity in different regions of the brain is correlated. These changes are reflected in the user's altered perception of time, space, and self.
Additionally, psilocybin has been found to increase emotional and brain plasticity, with positive effects lasting longer than negative ones. This suggests that psilocybin may have therapeutic potential in treating depression and anxiety. However, more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of psilocybin on the brain and associated functions. While the acute effects of psilocybin include reduced negative mood, increased positive mood, and reduced amygdala response to negative stimuli, the long-term impact on negative affect and associated brain function remains unknown.
It is important to note that the effects of mushrooms on serotonin levels and brain function are complex and not fully understood. While some people may experience positive therapeutic effects, others may encounter negative consequences. Therefore, seeking professional guidance before consuming mushrooms or any substances that interfere with serotonin levels is essential.
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A single dose of magic mushrooms can change a person's personality
A single dose of magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, may be enough to bring about a measurable personality change lasting at least a year, according to a study by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers. The study involved 51 individuals who underwent two to five eight-hour psilocybin sessions, with a three-week interval between each session. During the sessions, participants were encouraged to lie down, wear an eye mask, and listen to music through headphones while concentrating on an inner experience.
The results of the study revealed that while other aspects of personality stayed the same, the trait of
The changes in personality may be due to the way psilocybin affects the brain. Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic compound that causes major changes in functional connectivity or FC, a measure of how activity in different regions of the brain is correlated. These regions include most of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Psilocybin also causes activity within brain networks to become less synchronized and leads to less distinction between brain networks that normally show distinct activity.
While the effects of psilocybin on personality and the brain can be positive, it is important to note that magic mushrooms can also have negative consequences. Mushroom highs, known as "trips," can last for hours, and users may experience negative side effects such as nausea and panic attacks. Additionally, the abuse of mushrooms can alter the chemical composition of brain cells, leaving behind a swath of chemical changes that can be considered damaging and dangerous. Some people who take mushrooms experience heart difficulties and overheating, and regular alterations in serotonin could change the way the brain works in the long term.
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Frequently asked questions
Hallucinogenic drugs like mushrooms alter the chemical composition of the brain's cells. Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, causes major changes in functional connectivity in the brain.
The risks of taking mushrooms include unpredictable and potentially dangerous behaviour, disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic. There is also a risk of poisoning from picking the wrong type of mushroom.
The effects of mushrooms, known as "trips", can last for hours. Brain scans of participants who took psilocybin largely returned to normal the day after, but some changes lasted for at least three weeks.
Some studies have shown that psilocybin can make dramatic and long-lasting changes in people suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. However, more research is needed to understand the long-term impact of psilocybin on the brain.
