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Truffles for Trauma
15 October 2015

Truffles for Trauma

Understanding how the brain is organised and how its 100 billion neurons are integrated is a challenge for modern neuroscientists. Combining neuroimaging tools, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, with statistical network analysis allows scientists to better understand brain activity with potential for clinical applications. For example, these images are simplified visualisations of links between different cortical regions – the parts of the brain thought to be important in consciousness. The network on the left shows the placebo baseline, while the network on the right is from subjects under the influence of psilocybin – a psychedelic compound produced by magic mushrooms. Both the proportion and strength of the links were much higher in the psilocybin group, suggesting that the psychedelic state is associated with a less constrained and more intercommunicative mode of brain function. This shift in connectivity could be useful in treating psychological disorders like depression and PTSD.

Written by Kevin Pollock

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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.

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