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Understanding Psilocybin's Effects on Memory and Brain Function

This study is looking at how psilocybin affects memory and thinking in healthy people. Researchers will compare a single dose of psilocybin (15mg) to a placebo (an inactive substance) to see the differences. They will use computer tasks and special brain scans called fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to measure memory accuracy and brain activity. The study is looking for 48 healthy volunteers between 21 and 45 years old who have used psychedelics a few times in their life. The main goal is to see how psilocybin impacts memory and brain function after 8 weeks. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 48 planned participants. It is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, meaning neither you nor the researchers will know if you receive psilocybin or the placebo.
What's involved
You would need to attend all study sessions and complete all procedures, including computerized tasks and MRI scans. The primary measurements are taken at 8 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Memory accuracy and brain function will be measured at 8 weeks after the intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07079852

The Acute Effects of Psilocybin on Cognition, Memory, and Brain Function

Not Yet Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 21–45InterventionalBasic science
Manoj Doss
~48 participants
Updated 2026-06-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:PlaceboPsilocybin 15mg

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Memory accuracy from performance on a recognition memory test
Measured over 8 weeks
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Healthy

Explore related trials

Healthy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Texas1

Who to contact

Manoj Doss, PhD
[email protected]
512-495-5856
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

21 to 45-years-old.
3-30 lifetime psychedelic uses.
English as a first language.
High school education (or equivalent)
Psychiatrically healthy (as assessed by the SCID-5).
Medically healthy (as assessed by a physical examination and ECG).
Willingness to attend all study sessions and complete all procedures.
BMI between 19 and 30.

Exclusion

Current or past diagnosis of psychiatric disorders except panic attacks, depressive disorder, or anxiety, or disorder from ≥1 year prior.
Current or past medical conditions that might interfere with study participation or be contraindicated for psilocybin administration (e.g., hypertension, history of stroke, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
Current daily medications except birth control (females).
Pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant (assessed with urine pregnancy test).
Ingestion of a psychedelic \<2 months prior to an experimental session (with the exception of psilocybin administered in the context of the current study's repeated measures design).
History of serious adverse event with a psychedelic and/or self-reported hypersensitivity to psychedelics.
Inability to abstain from alcohol 48 hours prior to an experimental session.
Use of other psychoactive drugs (other than caffeine or nicotine) 1 week prior to an experimental session.
Positive urine drug screening for drugs of abuse during experimental sessions.
Self-reported ferrous metal, metallic implants, or implanted medical devices that would preclude participation in MRI procedures, including but not limited to cochlear implants, implanted brain stimulators, and aneurysm clips.
Self-reported past penetrating brain injury or any head injury resulting in a loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or more or post-concussive symptoms for more than seven days following a head injury.
Self-reported claustrophobia (prohibiting MRI acquisition).
Any other factors such as unstable housing or life-threatening circumstances, erratic behavior, etc. that are judged by the investigators to be a significant barrier to participation in the study protocol and/or to establishing rapport necessary for safe administration of psilocybin.
Participant unwillingness to not ingest or use additional serotonergic psychedelics outside the context of study procedures for the duration of the study.
Resting blood pressure \>140/90 mm hg at study entry.
Lifetime history of cardiomyopathy, stroke, heart disease, heart attack, tachycardia, elongated QT-interval corrected by Friderichia (\> 450ms for men and \> 470ms for women); clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia within 1 year of study entry; and/or abnormal electrocardiogram on study entry.
Left-handedness (given that functional lateralizations may differ from those of right-handed individuals).

What this trial measures

  • Memory accuracy from performance on a recognition memory test8 weeks

    Participants will be presented with a series of pictures, and their recognition memory for these pictures will be tested by presenting pictures that they previous saw (targets) intermixed with new pictures (lures). Their task will be to respond whether a picture is "old" or "new." Hit rate = p("old"\|target), False alarm rate = p("old"\|lure). Memory accuracy = hit rate - false alarm rate

  • Neural correlates of memory as measured from fMRI8 weeks

    Participants will be scanned with fMRI to measure brain responses associated with memory.