The Rise of Psilocybin: Demystifying the Magic of Magic Mushrooms

Psilocybin is one of two hallucinogenic compounds obtained from Teonanácatl, the sacred mushroom of Mexico, the other being psilocin. Although native Americans in Central and South America consumed psilocybe mushrooms for thousands of years, the first European record of their use was by a Spanish priest in the 16th century who recorded their use by the Aztec Indians.

Psilocybin and psilocin

Psilocybin is converted by the body to psilocin, and this is the actual compound which produces their psychoactive effects. They both have very similar molecular structures to a key chemical messenger called serotonin. Serotonin influences over-regulating our moods, sleep cycles and stress-coping mechanisms.

Due to this similarity in molecular structure, psilocin molecules activate the same receptors in the brain that serotonin activates, particularly at a specific receptor site known as 5HT2A. This particular receptor mediates many different functions in our minds; like mood, imagination, learning and perception.

A large portion of these 5HT2A receptors are located in cells in the cortex; an area of the brain associated with reasoning and rational thought.

Psilocin sits into these receptors and activates them, thereby producing the characteristic ‘trip’ of a magic mushroom experience, which can include changes in mood, imagination and perception.

Psilocin and the Default Mode Network (DMN)

Recent research has also shown psilocin has an effect on a part of the brain known as the Default Mode Network (DMN).

Our DMN’s are like our brain’s main information highways. They act as consolidation centres while we go about our daily lives, compiling information quietly in the background. They also allow us to ‘time travel’ in our minds, giving us the ability to think back to the past and plan into the future. Some also theorise our DMN’s are home to our individualities; that they house our senses of ‘self’.

Psilocin temporarily disables one or more of the DMN’s ‘connector hubs’. This temporary shutdown of our brain’s main information highway means the brain cannot connect with the different parts of itself like it usually does, and is instead forced to connect in ways it does not usually. This means the brain starts communicating with parts of itself it doesn’t normally ‘talk’ to, which means the brain creates new connections while under the influence of psilocin.

Our understanding of exactly how psilocin affects the brain is not yet complete, and scientific research continues.

Conclusion

By unraveling the mechanisms through which these substances interact with our brain's receptors and alter neurotransmitter activity, we gain valuable insights into the profound effects they can induce on perception, mood, and consciousness.

As we continue this exploration, we find ourselves at the threshold of a new era in neuroscience, where the study of psychedelics not only broadens our scientific understanding but also holds promise for therapeutic applications.

With each revelation, we inch closer to harnessing the transformative potential of psilocybin and psilocin, paving the way for a deeper appreciation of their impact on the intricate tapestry of the human mind.