AI Analysis of Brain Scans Challenges Psilocybin Chaos Theory
A Nature study used AI to analyze MRI and EEG scans of 62 participants on psilocybin, finding brain activity was not purely chaotic.
A study published in Nature used artificial intelligence to analyze brain scans of people who had been given psilocybin, and found that their brain activity was not purely chaotic. The research, called PsiConnect, was conducted by scientists including Devon Stoliker of Monash University, according to Ars Technica.
Researchers gave 62 people who had never taken a psychedelic 19 milligrams of psilocybin. The volunteers completed a four-part sequence both sober and under the influence of the drug.
Participants were scanned with MRI about 80 minutes after dosing and with EEG about 150 minutes after. The AI analysis of these scans showed that brain activity under psychedelics was not purely chaotic.
The findings challenge a mainstream understanding that has held for about a decade: that psychedelics cause chaos in the brain. The study suggests the picture may be more structured than previously thought.
Quick answers
What did the Nature study find about psilocybin and brain activity?
The study used AI to analyze brain scans and found that brain activity under psychedelics was not purely chaotic.
How many people participated in the PsiConnect study?
62 people who had never taken a psychedelic participated and were given 19 milligrams of psilocybin.
What brain scanning methods were used in the study?
Participants were scanned with MRI about 80 minutes after dosing and with EEG about 150 minutes after.