{"id":3105,"date":"2026-04-20T20:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fungki.com\/de-wetenschap-wat-onderzoek-zegt-over-neuroplasticiteit-en-mentale-flexibiliteit\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T18:18:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T16:18:56","slug":"the-science-behind-psilocybin-microdosing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fungki.com\/en\/the-science-behind-psilocybin-microdosing\/","title":{"rendered":"The science behind psilocybin microdosing: neuroplasticity and mental flexibility"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At Fungki, we don’t just look at what people experience – we also look at what’s happening underneath. In recent years, there had been a clear shift in scientific research on psychedelics. Where these substances were long associated with stigma and strict regulation, they are nog being re-examined in the context of mental health and brain function.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A recent review article published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry (2025)<\/em> brings these developments together. In this article, we summarize the key insights from this research – without exaggeration, and with a focus on what is actually known.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From stigma to renewed interest<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Since the 1970s, research into psychedelics was largely put on hold. That picture has changed significantly over the past decade. Institutions such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/span><\/span> have granted psilocybin Breakthrough Therapy<\/em> designation in specific research contexts. This does not mean it is a freely applicable treatment, but it does indicate that early findings show enough potential to justify accelerated further research.<\/p>\n

The key shift from the past: psilocybin is increasingly being approached as a therapeutic tool, rather than a recreational substance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

What happens in the brain?<\/h3>\n

The effects of psilocybin differ fundamentally from traditional medication. While many antidepressants are aimed at stabilizing existing patterns, psilocybin appears to temporarily increase mental flexibility.<\/p>\n

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  1. Activation of 5-HT2A receptors
    Psilocybin binds to serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor in the prefrontal cortex. This area plays a key role in how we think, interpret, and respond.<\/li>\n
  2. Neuroplasticity
    Research suggests that psilocybin supports processes related to neuroplasticity – the brain\u2019s ability to form new connections. Rather than a \u201creset,\u201d a more accurate metaphor is: temporary expansion within a system that is usually quite fixed.<\/li>\n
  3. Increased connectivity (entropy)
    During the effects of psilocybin, communication between different brain regions increases. Networks that typically operate separately begin to interact more. This may help explain why some people report new perspectives or feel less constrained by habitual patterns of thinking.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How does psilocybin compare to other substances?<\/h3>\n

    In comparative research (including substances such as LSD, MDMA, and ketamine), psilocybin stands out for several reasons:<\/p>\n