Science gets closer to understanding how a psychedelic trip changes the brain

Health newsScience gets closer to understanding how a psychedelic trip changes the brainThe small study found evidence that a single trip may alter pathways between parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The study focused on psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in so-called magic mushrooms.The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 5, 2026, 11:00 AM EDTBy Kaitlin SullivanA single psychedelic trip may cause physical changes in the brain that could explain why some people report psychological benefits from the experience, a small study suggests. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The research, published Tuesday in Nature Communications, focused on psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in so-called magic mushrooms. The drug has been the subject of a number of studies in people that have found it appears to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. It has also shown promise in addiction medicine. Exactly how it may exert those benefits is still under investigation. It’s a question of growing scientific interest. Last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to speed up psychedelic research on psilocybin and ibogaine, another psychedelic derived from the root bark of a plant native to the Congo Rainforest. Following the order, the Food and Drug Administration granted fast-track reviews to two companies studying psilocybin for depression. Researchers have generally fallen into two camps: those who hypothesize the psychedelic trips are vital to any benefits — and brain changes — the substances produce and those who think the specific compounds themselves, not the trips, are the key. The new study supports the former, suggesting the strength of the psychedelic experience does matter. The research “found that the bigger the scores on psychological insight, the bi...