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Psychedelic substances in magic mushrooms produce brain activity similar to that during dreams, scientists say, who have studied the human brain during mental “trips” induced by them.

Magic mushrooms grow naturally in the most diverse parts of the globe and have been used since ancient times in spiritual rituals, but also for recreational purposes. Psilocybin mushroom spores from reputable sources are used to continue researching the benefits of magic mushrooms.

Recent studies have explored the potential of psilocybin to alleviate severe forms of depression in patients who do not respond well to other forms of treatment and have obtained a series of positive results, at least in the early stages of experiments. Researchers also found interesting things that support psilocybin’s potential to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

People who used psychedelic drugs described a state of “expanded consciousness,” characterized by vivid imagery and dream-like sensations.

To explore the biological basis of these experiences, specialists studied the information obtained from MRI scans of the brain and found that, after the administration of psilocybin, the activity in the more primitive brain network associated with emotional thinking became more pronounced, certain parts of the network – such as the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex – being more active at the same time. This activity pattern is similar to that produced while people dream.

The researchers also found that volunteers who had taken psilocybin showed less coordinated activity in the brain network associated with higher thinking, including self-awareness.