Huge crisis in magic mushroom research: Claim that silocybin cures depression could not be verified

Psychedelic drug research, which has been described as a "revolution" in recent years in the treatment of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), has been dealt a major blow. Five different neuroscience laboratories operating at Berkeley, UCSF and Stanford University in the USA simultaneously tested the effects of silocybin, the active ingredient of magic mushrooms, on mice with exactly the same protocols. The results, published in the respected scientific journal Nature Neuroscience, revealed that the drug did not provide a permanent improvement.

NO PERMANENT EFFECT WAS DETECTED AFTER A SINGLE DOSE

Unlike single laboratory studies, the consortium combines the data of five giant laboratories; detected no lasting changes in the animals' behavior 24 hours after administration of a single dose of silocybin. One day after drug administration, no reproducible improvement was noted in the mice's depression-like behavior, anxiety levels, fear responses, or social interactions.

On the other hand, it was stated that temporary (acute) effects of the drug, such as head twitching, increased anxiety and avoidance of open areas within 10 minutes after the injection, were common in all laboratories. Although researchers confirmed that these short-term reactions created activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, they proved that this did not translate into a long-term treatment.

"PUBLICATION BIAS" IN THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE WAS DISCUSSED

Odilia Lu, one of the lead authors of the study, and Prof. Dr. Stephan Lammel stated that the surprising results obtained reveal a deep problem in the scientific world. Experts emphasized that positive results obtained in individual and small-sample studies are easily published by journals, but negative results are hidden, and pointed out that this situation creates a serious "publication bias" and optimism in the literature.

The consortium, founded under the leadership of Stanford neuroscientist Robert Malenka, emphasized that multi-laboratory collaborations, rather than single and small experiments, are essential to understand the real effects of psychedelic drugs on the human brain.

ARE MOUSE TESTS INSUFFICIENT IN MEASURING THE COMPLEX HUMAN MIND?

Another critical debate that emerged in the research was how much animal models can reflect human psychology. Stating that ritualistic use, which has been practiced for thousands of years in indigenous cultures, cannot be fit into Western-type clinical environments and laboratory cages, Prof. Andrea Gomez; "It is extremely difficult to measure the higher cognitive processes or social interaction that a mouse experiences during a hallucinatory journey with standard laboratory tests," he evaluated.

Scientists stated that silocybin's potential in treating depression should not be completely abandoned, but new standardized research is needed to find the real effects of the drug on brain circuits instead of exaggerated claims.