Psilocybin targets brain circuits to relieve chronic pain, depression
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 20-Dec-2025 10:11 ET (20-Dec-2025 15:11 GMT/UTC)
Researchers at Penn Medicine have identified specific brain circuits that are impacted by psilocybin—the active compound found in some psychedelic mushrooms—which could lead to new paths forward for pain and mental health management options. Chronic pain affects more than 1.5 billion people worldwide and is often deeply entangled with depression and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that amplifies suffering and impairs quality of life. The study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania- published today in Nature Neuroscience- offers new insight into ways to disrupt this cycle.
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