Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study
Abstract This pilot study investigated psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants were recruited from a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating psilocybin-assisted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52967-8 |
| _version_ | 1827327831490691072 |
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| author | B. A. Pagni P. D. Petridis S. K. Podrebarac J. Grinband E. D. Claus M. P. Bogenschutz |
| author_facet | B. A. Pagni P. D. Petridis S. K. Podrebarac J. Grinband E. D. Claus M. P. Bogenschutz |
| author_sort | B. A. Pagni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This pilot study investigated psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants were recruited from a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) for the treatment of AUD (NCT02061293). Eleven adult patients completed task-based blood oxygen dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approximately 3 days before and 2 days after receiving 25 mg of psilocybin (n = 5) or 50 mg of diphenhydramine (n = 6). Visual alcohol and emotionally valanced (positive, negative, or neutral) stimuli were presented in block design. Across both alcohol and emotional cues, psilocybin increased activity in the medial and lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and left caudate, and decreased activity in the insular, motor, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, and cerebellum. Unique to negative cues, psilocybin increased supramarginal gyrus activity; unique to positive cues, psilocybin increased right hippocampus activity and decreased left hippocampus activity. Greater PFC and caudate engagement and concomitant insula, motor, and cerebellar disengagement suggests enhanced goal-directed action, improved emotional regulation, and diminished craving. The robust changes in brain activity observed in this pilot study warrant larger neuroimaging studies to elucidate neural mechanisms of PAT. Trial registration: NCT02061293. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:08:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57a8024bf6da4bab8978d6bc9c7f2fa5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:08:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-57a8024bf6da4bab8978d6bc9c7f2fa52024-03-05T18:48:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-52967-8Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot studyB. A. Pagni0P. D. Petridis1S. K. Podrebarac2J. Grinband3E. D. Claus4M. P. Bogenschutz5Department of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineDepartments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & SurgeonsDepartment of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine, NYU Grossman School of MedicineAbstract This pilot study investigated psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Participants were recruited from a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) for the treatment of AUD (NCT02061293). Eleven adult patients completed task-based blood oxygen dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approximately 3 days before and 2 days after receiving 25 mg of psilocybin (n = 5) or 50 mg of diphenhydramine (n = 6). Visual alcohol and emotionally valanced (positive, negative, or neutral) stimuli were presented in block design. Across both alcohol and emotional cues, psilocybin increased activity in the medial and lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and left caudate, and decreased activity in the insular, motor, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, and cerebellum. Unique to negative cues, psilocybin increased supramarginal gyrus activity; unique to positive cues, psilocybin increased right hippocampus activity and decreased left hippocampus activity. Greater PFC and caudate engagement and concomitant insula, motor, and cerebellar disengagement suggests enhanced goal-directed action, improved emotional regulation, and diminished craving. The robust changes in brain activity observed in this pilot study warrant larger neuroimaging studies to elucidate neural mechanisms of PAT. Trial registration: NCT02061293.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52967-8 |
| spellingShingle | B. A. Pagni P. D. Petridis S. K. Podrebarac J. Grinband E. D. Claus M. P. Bogenschutz Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study Scientific Reports |
| title | Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study |
| title_full | Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study |
| title_short | Psilocybin-induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder: an fMRI pilot study |
| title_sort | psilocybin induced changes in neural reactivity to alcohol and emotional cues in patients with alcohol use disorder an fmri pilot study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52967-8 |
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