Swiss researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to see the human brain under the influence of psilocybin. They noted excessive activation of serotonin 2 receptors in the frontal area of the brain. This was accompanied by increased glucose usage in these areas. The overall results positively correlated with “hallucinatory ego disintegration” and findings associated with acute psychotic episodes experienced by schizophrenics.
PET Scans Show the Human Brain Under the Influence of Psilocybin
Swiss researchers suggest the psychosis induced by psilocybin can be used to study the role of the serotonin 2 receptor in schizophrenia.