15 July 2014
Doors of Perception
People have described taking 'magic mushrooms' as entering a dream-like state, a realm of enhanced perceptions and strong visuals. Researchers have provided for the first time a physical representation for this experience in the brain. They injected 15 volunteers with psilocybin, the psychedelic chemical in magic mushrooms (pictured), while they lay in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. The brain imaging data for people under psilocybin showed an increase in activity in the more primitive brain network linked to emotions and memory. This ‘louder’ pattern of activity is similar to the pattern observed in people who are dreaming. On the other hand, psilocybin made the brain network that’s linked to high-level thinking and our sense of self become uncoordinated and disorganised. Now the scientists are looking at the possibility that psilocybin may help alleviate symptoms of depression by altering pessimistic patterns of thinking.
Written by
Search The Archive
Submit An Image
Like us on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Tumblr
Follow on Instagram
What is BPoD?
BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.
BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.