Researchers at the University of Maryland have demonstrated how psilocybin may be used for its antidepressant properties without any psychedelic experiences.
The study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to researchers, the benefits of psilocybin without the psychedelic effects were uncovered through experimentation on rodents.
“These findings show that activation of the receptor causing the psychedelic effect isn’t absolutely required for the antidepressant benefits, at least in mice,” said one author of the study in a news release.
“This new study has interesting implications, and shows that more basic research is needed in animals to reveal the mechanisms for how these drugs work, so that treatments for these devastating disorders can be developed.”
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
