Microdosing Research
Research & Neurobiology
What Science Is Revealing About Microdosing and the Brain
While the practice of microdosing is gaining popularity, scientific research into its physiological and neurological effects is still in early stages. However, emerging studies are beginning to shed light on how psychedelics like psilocybin interact with the brain—even at sub-perceptual levels.
One of the most influential researchers in this field, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris of Imperial College London, has used fMRI imaging to observe how the brain responds to full psychedelic doses. His work shows that psilocybin reduces activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN)—a region of the brain associated with self-referential thinking, habitual mental patterns, and ego identity.
While microdosing doesn’t produce the same intensity of effects, it may still gently modulate DMN activity, creating space for:
- A softened sense of self or inner critic
- Greater openness to new perspectives
- Enhanced cognitive flexibility and insight
- Reduced rigid thinking or emotional reactivity
In short, microdosing may temporarily ease the brain’s default patterns—allowing for increased presence, creativity, and connection to one’s environment.
As scientific research evolves, our understanding of how psychedelics impact the brain continues to deepen—validating what many users have reported anecdotally for years.
The Role of the Default Mode Network (DMN)
Softening the Ego, Opening New Possibilities
The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a key region of the brain associated with our sense of self (ego) and many of our habitual thought and behavior patterns—what you might call our internal “autopilot.”
When microdosing, blood flow to the DMN appears to be slightly reduced. This temporary downregulation can quiet the inner critic, ease self-judgment, and make space for a more compassionate, present-centered perspective. In this state, individuals often report feeling less rigid, more open, and more connected to themselves and others.
At the same time, this disruption to habitual brain activity may allow for a break in automatic thinking or behavioral loops—what’s sometimes called “tunnel vision.” Instead, microdosing may facilitate:
- Fresh insights
- New ways of problem-solving
- Emotional flexibility
- The ability to form healthier, more conscious patterns
This neurological shift likely explains why so many people describe microdosing as a catalyst for self-awareness, habit change, and creative breakthroughs—not through force, but through gentle cognitive openness.
The Power of Intention
Turning Insight into Lasting Change
Microdosing isn’t just about chemistry—it’s about conscious engagement. Setting a clear, meaningful intention before and during your microdosing period helps focus your attention, guide your inner process, and amplify the personal growth that can unfold.
As the ego softens and habitual patterns shift, intention acts as a compass—helping you stay grounded while gently exploring new perspectives and behaviors.
Throughout your microdosing cycle, we encourage regular reflection on your intention. This practice supports:
- Greater self-awareness
- Integration of emotional and cognitive insights
- Alignment between your inner experience and outer actions
By the time your microdosing cycle ends, this intentional focus helps ensure that the insights you've gained don’t fade—they take root. With proper integration, the benefits of microdosing can continue to influence your mindset, habits, and relationships long after the final dose.
Intention turns experience into transformation. It’s how we carry the wisdom forward.
VistaPlus Results
VistaPlus participants experienced +7% more 'happiness' on average within a time frame of three months after starting our program. Concentration increases on an average of +13% after two weeks, and +15% after three months. Feelings of insecurity reduced with -15% after only two weeks of microdosing. Our participants felt +5% more in touch with their feelings after two weeks, +11% after a month and +16% after three months {2019}.
Note: Above stated results may be subject to change as more reliable, more widely representative data becomes available.
Microdosing Placebo Study
Self Double Blinding Placebo Study
This innovative study led by Dr. Balázs Szigeti and Dr. David Erritzoe of Imperial College London, in partnership with Amanda Feilding of the Beckley Foundation, allows microdosers to implement placebo control during self-experimentation.
The central hypothesis of this study is that microdosing can increase psychological well-being and cognitive functioning in healthy subjects. In parallel, is being examined whether microdosing can induce any negative effects such as anxiety.
We are excited to have contributed to this groundbreaking research in collaboration with Balázs, by guiding subjects in the process of microdosing with psychedelics.
You can read more about Balasz's self-blinding placebo study here.
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Psilocybin Research Studies
Studies with Healthy Adults
- Psychedelics and Other Psychoplastogens for Treating Mental Illness doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00535. eCollection 2024
- Microdosing psychedelics: Demographics, practices, and psychiatric comorbidities
Daniel Rosenbaum, Cory Weissman, Thomas Anderson, doi.org/10.1177/0269881120908004
- Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research Kim PC Kuypers, Livia Ng, David Erritzoedoi.org/10.1177/0269881119857204
James Fadiman ,Sophia Korb Published online: 29 Mar 2019
doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2019.1593561
- A systematic study of microdosing psychedelics Published online 2019 Feb 6. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211023
- High dose psilocybin is associated with positive subjective effects in healthy volunteers. Nicholas, et al. Journal of Psychopharmacology. July 2018. 32(7): 770-778, doi: 10.1177/0269881118780713journals.sagepub.com/home/jop
- Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults. 2017. Brown RT, Nicholas CR, Cozzi NV, Gassman MC, Cooper KM, Muller D…Hutson PR. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 1-12 doi:10.1007/s40262-017-0540-6
- Effects of serotonin 2A/1A receptor stimulation on social exclusion processing. 2016. Preller KH, Pokorny T, Hock A, Kraehenmann R, Stämpfli P, Seifritz E, Scheidegger M, Vollenweider FX. PNAS. 2016, 113 (18) 5119-5124; published ahead of print 18 April 2016, doi:10.1073/pnas.1524187113
- Survey study of challenging experiences after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms: Demographics and phenomenology. 2010. Carbonaro TM, Barrett FS, Bradstreet MP, Johnson MW, MacLean KA, Jesse R, Griffiths RR. Drug & Alcohol Dependence. Oct 2010. Volume 146, e239 – e240, 2015
- Psilocybin Biases Facial Recognition, Goal-Directed Behavior, and Mood State Toward Positive Relative to Negative Emotions Through Different Serotonergic Subreceptors. 2012. Kometer M, Schmidt A, Bachmann R, Studerus E, Seifritz E, Vollenweider FX. Biological Psychiatry. Volume 72, Issue 11, 1 Dec 2012, Pages 898-906, ISSN 0006-3223.
- Psilocybin occasioned mystical-type experiences: immediate and persisting dose-related effects. 2011. Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Richards, WA, Richards BD, McCann U, Jesse R. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011 Dec, 218(4):649-65. Epub 15 Jun 2011
- Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness. 2011. MacLean KA, Johnson MW, Griffiths RR. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(11), 1453-1461
- Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies. 2011. Studerus E, Kometer M, Hasler F, Vollenweider FX. J Psychopharmacol. 25 Nov 2011: 1434-1452, first published on 20 September 2010 doi: 10.1177/0269881110382466
- Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later. 2008. Griffiths R, Richards W, Johnson M, McCann U, Jesse R. J Psychopharmacol. 22 Aug 2008, (6):621-32. Epub 1 Jul 2008.
Studies on Depression
- The therapeutic potential of microdosing psychedelics in depression Kim P.C. Kuypers
First Published August 27, 2020 Review Article https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125320950567
- Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression Taylor Lyons, Robin L Carhart-Harris
doi.org/10.1177/0269881117748902
- The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis. Goldberg, et al. 2020. Psychiatry Research, 284, 112749. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112749
- Efficacy of psychedelic treatments on depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. Romeo, et al. 2020. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 026988112091995. doi: 10.1177/0269881120919957
- Therapeutic mechanisms of psilocybin: Changes in amygdala and prefrontal functional connectivity during emotional processing after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Mertens, et al. 2020. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 34(2), 167–180. doi: 10.1177/0269881119895520
- Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin. Barrett et al. 2020. Scientific Reports, 10(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59282-y
- A single psilocybin dose is associated with long-term increased mindfulness, preceded by a proportional change in neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding. Madsen et al. 2020. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 33, 71–80. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.02.001
- More Realistic Forecasting of Future Life Events After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Lyons, et al. Frontiers in Psychology. October 2018. 9(1721): 1-11, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01721
- Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Roseman, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology. January 2018. 8(974): 1-10, doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00974
- Patients’ Accounts of Increased “Connectedness” and “Acceptance” After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Watts, et al. Journal of Humanistic Psychology. June 2017. 57(5): 520-564, https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167817709585
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up. Carhart-Harris, et al. Psychopharmacology. November 2017. 235(2):399-408, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. 2017. Carhart-Harris RL, Roseman L, Bolstridge M, Demetriou L, Pannekoek JN, Wall MB, Tanner M, Kaelen M, McGonigle J, Murphy K, Leech R, Curran HV, Nutt DJ. Scientific Reports 7, Article number: 13187 (2017), doi:10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. 2016. Carhart-Harris RL, Boldstridge M, Rucker J, Day CMJ, Erritzoe D, Kaelen M, Bloomfield M, Rickard JA, Forbes B, Feilding A, Taylor D, Pilling S, Curran VH, Nutt DJ. The Lancet Psychiatry. 17 May 2016.
Studies on Addiction
- Clinical Interpretations of Patient Experience in a Trial of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder. Bogenschutz, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology. February 2018. 9(100):1-7, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00100
- Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions. 2015. Bogenschutz MP, Johnson MW. Prog Neuro-Psychopharmacol BiolPsychiatry. Mar 2015
- Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation: Abstinence outcomes and qualitative analysis of participant accounts. 2015. Garcia-Romeu AP, Noorani T, Griffiths RR, Johnson MW. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, Volume 156, e78. DOI
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study. 2015. Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ. J Psychopharmacol. 29 Mar 2015, (3):289-99. doi: 10.1177/0269881114565144. Epub 2015 Jan 13
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction. 2014. Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Cosimano MP, Griffiths RR. J Psychopharmacol. 28 Nov 2014, (11):983-92. doi: 10.1177/0269881114548296. Epub 2014 Sep 11