Microdosing magic mushrooms: brain boost or placebo?
NCT ID NCT07449351
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study from Yale University will test whether very low, non-hallucinogenic doses of psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) can improve mood, thinking, and quality of life. Twenty healthy adults with no prior psychedelic use will take either psilocybin or a placebo three times a week for 30 days. Researchers will measure changes in memory, attention, emotional well-being, and brain activity using MRI scans.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- psilocybin (very low dose, 2.0 mg)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a safe, non-hallucinogenic way to boost mood and mental sharpness in daily life.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study with only 20 people. It may not show clear benefits, and results may not apply to the general public.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
-
About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Aug 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Apr 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
21 to 40 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * No history of psychedelic use * Able to read, speak, and understand English * Able and willing to provide written informed consent, and willing to commit to study protocol * Women of childbearing potential must be on a highly effective birth control method Exclusion Criteria: * Positive screen for recreational drugs or alcohol on test day will result in rescheduling the appointment * Current mood, developmental, or psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, affective disorders) per DSM-V * Current or past alcohol or substance use disorder per DSM-V * IQ \<70 on the Weschler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence * Serious medical, neuro-ophthalmological, or neurological illness (e.g., cancer, seizure disorders, encephalopathy) * Current pregnancy, breastfeeding, or ineffective birth control methods * History of head trauma with loss of consciousness lasting \>30 minutes or concussion in last 30 days * Any medical/neurological condition that could compromise neurocognitive performance (e.g., epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, fetal alcohol syndrome) * Anyone deemed unsafe to study personnel for any reason; e.g., suicidal ideation * Focal brain lesion seen on structural MRI * MRI contraindications (e.g., implanted metallic object, severe claustrophobia)
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Psychedelic microdosing effects on mood, cognition, subjective well-being and mri are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center
Hartford, Connecticut, 06106, United States