Abstract

Over the last 10-15 years, a novel use paradigm of psychedelics has emerged, called ‘microdosing’, which is the regular usage of psychedelic drugs at sub-perceptual doses. A considerable number of anecdotal reports claim that microdosing can improve psychological well-being and cognitive functioning. However, more rigorous, randomized control trials have failed to demonstrate the effect of microdosing on psychological outcomes while controlling for placebo effects and blind breaking.

The primary objectives of the study are to test whether psychedelic microdosing has an effect beyond placebo on cognitive function, neurophysiology, and mood problems. Our naturalistic, laboratory-based study will investigate the effects of microdosing on psychological and physiological outcomes to address self-appraised mood problems. Our study has an observational design with the addition of an in-house developed self-blinding procedure that allows self-experimenters to implement their placebo control.

This poster will present pre-registered (osf.io) study hypotheses and our innovative methodological approaches. The wide set of hypotheses includes the physiological effects of microdosing on brain electrical activity, expression of neural plasticity, peripheral, genetic, and epigenetic expression of genes related to plasticity and immune functioning, as well as parasympathetic nervous system functioning. Psychological outcomes include acute and sustained psychological effects on personality, psychological flexibility, depression, and others. We will also investigate the placebo effects in the sample. To further increase study validity, and control for placebo effects we will be using ecological momentary assessment during the dosing period. This will help us investigate if mood enhancement associated with microdosing or potential side-effects are contributing to bind-breaking.