A dose of psilocybin stirred the brain of a barely conscious woman
In this case, a team of neuroscientists and clinicians documented the effects of psilocybin on a 41-year-old woman in a minimally conscious state with language-mediated responses – referred to as MCS+.
One year earlier, she had suffered a traumatic brain injury. People in this state show intermittent signs of awareness, such as following commands or tracking objects with their eyes, but remain largely unresponsive. Despite prior attempts with various medications and brain stimulation techniques, she showed little improvement. Her diagnosis had been stable for about a year before the psilocybin session. After trying various unsuccessful treatments, including medications and brain stimulation, her caregiver contacted one of the study authors about the possibility of trying psilocybin. Based on these clinical assessments, the patient’s level of consciousness fluctuated throughout the day. While initially scoring as MCS+, she was later assessed as unresponsive based on her inability to follow commands. However, she did display behaviors that had not been seen at rest before taking psilocybin, such as lifting both legs and holding them aloft, as well as a distinct shivering of the right leg. Her caregiver also noted that her eyes and mouth were wide open in a way not previously observed. These changes were not enough to shift her diagnostic category, but they may suggest the presence of a subjective internal experience, even without outward responsiveness.
Original Article (Psypost):
A dose of psilocybin stirred the brain of a barely conscious woman
Artwork Fair Use: Sar Maroof
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