Microdosing Research

This survey (n=909) of psychedelic microdosers found that they were more likely than the general public to have used substances recreationally and were less likely to suffer from substance use disorder (SUD) or anxiety disorder. Most microdosed with either LSD (13μg) or psilocybin (0.3g mushroom).

This interview study (n=30) reviewed the experiences of subjects who have used psychedelics (e.g. LSD, psilocybin) in small quantities (microdosing) to understand their reasons and how they perceived themselves in their conventional lives in the context of their narrative identity. The study opined that the acute use of such psychedelics in small quantities allowed the subjects to rationalize their reasons due to their procurement and administration practices as well as health reasons. This helped them normalize their drug use, facilitated persistence and saw themselves as conventional citizens with middle-class values. This reasoning ultimately allows them to distance themselves from those who “abuse” psychedelics.

This preprint meta-analysis (n=175) of three double-blind placebo-controlled longitudinal experiments investigated the effects of microdosing psilocybin (0.74 – 1.71mg) on creativity and found that it increased the originality of their ideas while generating novel applications for ordinary things (divergent thinking). However, it did not increase the number of novel ideas, or their ability to detect features that are common across multiple things (convergent thinking).

This animal study (n=35) investigated the effects of microdosing DMT (1mg/kg) in rats and found that a chronic (∼2 months), intermittent (every third day) microdosing regimen facilitated fear extinction learning and reduced depressive immobility in the forced swim test without producing the anxiety-like effects characteristic of a high dose.

This survey study (n=410) showed that those with mental & physical health problems self-rated the effectiveness of microdosing as higher than conventional treatments in regards to ADHD/ADD and anxiety. They rated it as less effective than a high dose of psychedelics.

This survey study (n=116) investigated the motives and reported side effects of psychedelic microdosing (.5g psilocybin (mushroom), 10μg LSD) and found that one-fifth (20%) of all microdosers reported some psychological or physical adverse effects. While most users pursued performance enhancement, many discontinued this practice primarily because it was ineffective.

This placebo-controlled animal study (n=40) investigated the effects of ketamine (0.5-3 mg/kg) and psilocin (0.05-0.075 mg/kg) microdosing (x3) on anxiety-related explorative behaviour in rats and found that both substances caused mild anxiety as measured by a reduction of explorative behaviour on an elevated open surface.

This survey study (n=278) aimed to develop a codebook of benefits and challenges associated with microdosing. The authors found, among other things, that many parallels exist between the effects reported as benefits and those reported as challenges.

This double-blind placebo-controlled study (n=30) found that microdosing psychedelics (psilocybin; 1.5mg; 5-7 doses) increased awe but not aesthetic experiences (e.g. viewing art). Many participants knew which group (receiving placebo or psilocybin in which timeframe) they were in (‘breaking blind’) and the researcher presume that expectancy-effects may explain the effects found.

This review (2020) examines the viability of microdosing psychedelics as a method to improve cognition and well-being. Available evidence indicates a variety of (perceived) benefits, including improvements in mood, focus, and creativity, with some people experiencing no discernible effects or expressing concerns about selective negative consequences like increased anxiety. However, most insights stem from observational studies using convenience samples that are biased or unrepresentative of the general population.