- The combination of psilocybin microdosing and neurofeedback training shows feasibility, with participants completing the protocol without requiring psychological support.
- While there were no significant improvements observed in tasks-based executive functions, the experimental group reported medium to high enhancements in self-reported daily executive functions.
- Future research should implement larger trials with active control groups to assess the specific effects of psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback on executive functions over an extended period.
Introduction
Executive function deficits are prevalent in individuals with psychiatric disorders, significantly impacting their daily activities. These deficits encompass various cognitive abilities, including planning, decision-making, and self-control. Such challenges are often linked to reduced neural plasticity, which refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. Reduced plasticity results in less effective behavioral and medicinal treatments, thereby highlighting the need for more effective interventions that address cognitive deficits directly, particularly amidst rising global mental health issues.
The neural underpinnings of executive functions involve a network that connects frontal and parietal brain regions. Frontal-midline theta activity, primarily generated in specific areas like the midcingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, serves as a key mechanism for communication within this network. Improved cognitive processing is strongly associated with increased theta activity. Consequently, difficulties in elevating this activity often result in poorer performance in executive function-related tasks.
Recent research has positioned psychedelics, specifically psilocybin, as potentially transformative tools for cognitive enhancement. Their capacity to facilitate neuroplasticity through specific receptor interactions may lead to rapid and enduring clinical benefits, typically requiring strictly controlled environments due to their hallucinogenic effects. Microdosing, which involves administering sub-therapeutic doses, represents a promising alternative since it may still promote neuroplasticity without the intense effects associated with higher doses.
Methodology
Recruitment and Design
The researchers recruited participants through a workshop hosted by the Dutch Microdosing Institute, aiming for a total of approximately 40 individuals. Key eligibility criteria included no history of psychosis, normal or corrected vision, and an abstinence from drugs for three weeks prior to the study. Participants were randomized into either an experimental group, which received the full intervention, or a passive control group that remained unaware of the neurofeedback aspect.
Study Procedure
The study unfolded over three weeks. The first week included pre-measurements and adjustments for microdosing in the experimental group. The second week consisted of three sessions of psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback for the experimental group, while the control group had a break. The third week was dedicated to post-assessments for both groups. Subsequently, the control group initiated their microdosing phase, which was beyond the scope of the study.
Assessment Tools
A range of assessment instruments were utilized, including the Revised Life Orientation Task, Short Suggestibility Survey, and modified psilocybin microdose expectancy scales. Executive function assessments incorporated both computerized tasks and self-reports, focusing on areas such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.
Results Overview
Feasibility Findings
The study convincingly demonstrated its feasibility, evidenced by all participants in the experimental group completing the psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback protocol without the need for psychological support. This indicated that the combination of microdosing and neurofeedback was well-tolerated and practical.
Neurofeedback Insights
The experimental group exhibited promising trends indicating improvement in neurofeedback learning, marked by increases in frontal-midline theta amplitude over the three sessions. Although within-session changes demonstrated medium effect sizes, these were not statistically significant in study findings.
Improvements in Executive Functions
Both groups reported noteworthy improvements in self-reported daily executive functions, particularly in aspects such as working memory, cognitive shifting, monitoring, and inhibition. Nonetheless, these improvements seemed to be affected partly by placebo, as there were no significant advancements in task-based measures for executive functions among either group.
Discussion and Future Directions
The successful demonstration of combining psilocybin microdosing with neurofeedback training indicates its feasibility for broader applications in clinical settings. While both groups experienced improvements in self-reported executive functions, the absence of corresponding enhancements in task-based measures signifies the necessity for extended training durations and more refined protocols in future studies.
The authors advocate for the inclusion of active control groups and increased session frequency in subsequent research initiatives to evaluate more comprehensively the specific effects of psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback on executive functions. The encouraging trends in neurofeedback learning paired with self-reported improvements hint at the potential of this innovative approach as a treatment for deficits in executive functions across diverse psychiatric disorders.
Despite limitations, such as the short duration of the study and possible placebo influences, the positive outcomes represent a promising foundation for future clinical trials. The researchers propose that integrating psilocybin-enhanced neurofeedback could yield significant long-term benefits across various diagnoses by merging the neuroplasticity-enhancing effects of psychedelics with cognitive training specificity. See also our coverage of Characterizing Resting-State Brain Dynamics, and our explainers on microdosing protocol. Read the full paper summary on Blossom.
