Microdosing Research

This prospective survey study (n=81) found that expectancy effects were mostly predictive of microdosing outcomes on reductions in state anxiety, depressive symptoms (at 4-week endpoint), and positive outcomes (e.g. psychological resilience, -connectedness, -flexibility).

This survey study (n=525) found that the motivation for microdosing (psilocybin and LSD) was mainly to improve mental health, personal development, and cognitive enhancement. Four out of five participants used one or more harm reduction techniques on microdosing days (e.g. not dosing when unwell, no alcohol, avoiding driving).

This qualitative study (n=198) of opinions on microdosing found that they were generally well-tolerated and were used for therapeutic or enhancement purposes. The study analysed 32 videos and the self-report reactions to those videos.

A placebo-controlled within-subject study including, 24 healthy participants, was conducted to assess the acute effects of three LSD doses (5, 10, and 20 mcg) on measures of cognition, mood, and subjective experience.

This is the fourth publication on the administration of a microdose of LSD (5, 10, or 20µg). The double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=24) found enhanced attention, slower information processing, more positive mood, and increased anxiety and confusion. Again, the results are small and ambiguous.

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=20), a microdose of LSD (13µg) was found to increase and decrease connectivity in various areas of the brain. One of these effects correlated positively with mood increases, but overall mood changes were variable.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject study (n=20) found that a microdose of LSD (up to 26μg; 3x) elicited dose-dependent subjective effects during the ‘peak’ of the experience but not at the follow-up (48 hours).

This is the third publication of a four-part study. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n=23) found that 10 µg of LSD (vs 5µg) produced psychedelic (psychotropic) effects (even more so at 20µg). The peak effects were at 2.5 hours and ended at 5 hours.

This is the second publication of a four-part study. It was found that a microdose (20µg) of LSD increased neuroplasticity as measured by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels at 6 hours (n=24). The results are, however, ambiguous and not present at all values/times.

This is the first of a four-part study (n=24) exploring the effects of a microdose of LSD (5-20µg) on a range of measures, including mood, cognition, empathy, creativity, and physiological parameters. This part of the study found that LSD increased the pain tolerance of participants.