Whether it’s to boost focus, productivity, creativity, or empathy, many people who microdose mushrooms claim that doing so enhances their mood and daily functioning. But is the effect real or could it just be an expectation bias? We delve into the evidence and find that the answer is unclear.

As the practice of microdose mushrooms becomes more mainstream, online vendors promise to mail psychedelic mushrooms straight to your doorstep. However, sourcing magic mushrooms through this route can be dangerous and even illegal in some states. Some sites operate scams while others substitute illegal compounds without saying so. And even in states where psilocybin is legal, growing the mushrooms yourself can be illegal.

The psilocybin in magic mushrooms acts as a partial agonist of serotonin receptors, and it’s a powerful antidepressant and anxiolytic. It also induces an altered sense of time, visual and sensory distortions, and changes in one’s perception of the world around them. It’s also known as a powerful spiritual experience and is used in ancient cultures for its healing properties.

Microdosing Made Easy: Finding Mushrooms Online

While psilocybin is illegal in most of the US, some researchers have investigated its effects on a microdose of 0.5 g dried psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. The double-blind placebo-controlled study found that the active dose reliably induced psychedelic effects, and it significantly enhanced creativity (divergent and convergent thinking), as well as perceptual and cognitive function. The brain activity associated with this microdose was characterized by decreased power in the theta range (4 to 8 Hz), and preserved levels of Lempel-Ziv broadband signal complexity.