The Effects of Psilocybin on Shared Experience in Film Processing

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age19+
SponsorWestern University, Canada

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether certain methods of detecting awareness in vegetative or minimally conscious patients (using neuroimaging) are sensitive to the effects of psilocybin (a psychedelic drug). One of these methods includes scanning peoples\' brains while they watch a film. When different individuals watch a film, their brains become synchronized with each other as they watch the plot unfold. Most importantly, if a seemingly unconscious patient also shows the same brain-synchronization, it means they might actually be conscious and aware.

To approach this goal, the investigators will be carrying out this trial in healthy volunteers. This will help better understand whether psilocybin may be a potential treatment for restoring awareness in these patients. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does psilocybin enhance or diminish brain synchrony during a film? * Do changes in brain synchrony reflect differences in each individual\'s conscious experience?

Participants will be asked to:

* Attend two brain scanning sessions and watch a series of film clips, perform a brief mental imagery task, and listen to music - once under a placebo, and once under psilocybin. * Play a series of games that assess their cognition (memory, reasoning, planning, etc.). * Perform a series of visual illusions tasks.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Have access to an internet connection

Be in good general health

Be 19 years of age, or older

Be willing to follow the study protocol

Disqualifiers

Are unable to read English

Have high blood pressure

Are pregnant (determined by a urine pregnancy test at in-person screening)

Are not using effective methods of contraception with their partner(s) (e.g. oral contraceptive pill, injection, implant, patch, vaginal ring, intrauterine coil, intrauterine device, tubal ligation, or barrier method)

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Psilocybin
  • Placebo

Treatment groups

30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Locations

This trial has no locations

Sponsors and collaborators