Magic mushrooms give idea as to how psychedelic drugs work
Wednesday 25th January 2012
People under the influence of magic mushrooms have given doctors a new insight into the how the drug works.
The psychedelic toxin contains a substance known as psilocybin which creates the high that many experience when taking the drug. Researchers wanted to find out what effect the component had on the brain and where the activity is suppressed by the chemical.
Following examinations it was found that psilocybin enhances volunteers' recollection of old personal memories and scientists believe that this could be helpful during psychotherapy. However, the drug also caused a number of "hubs" on the brain which showed a decrease in brain activity.
According to Frank, a drugs advice organisation, magic mushrooms can slow down or speed up a person's perception of time as well as causing disorientation.
Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, from the department of medicine at Imperial College London, said: "The effects need to be investigated further, and ours was only a small study, but we are interested in exploring psilocybin's potential as a therapeutic tool."
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written Mathew Horton
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