S6:E2 Magic Mushrooms and the Human Brain - Super Brain

Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in so-called “magic mushrooms” — has exploded into headlines and social media feeds. Some call it a miracle cure for depression, others dismiss it as hype. In this episode, I take a clear-eyed look at what the science really says.I’ll start with Sarah’s story — a young scientist whose life was turned upside down by a cycling accident and who found hope again through a psilocybin clinical trial at Johns Hopkins. Her words: “This trial changed my life.”From there, I explore:<ul><li>The history of psilocybin, from ancient rituals to 1960s psychiatry to today’s “psychedelic renaissance.”</li><li>The online buzz, where psilocybin is hyped as everything from a creativity booster to a trauma cure.</li><li>The scientific evidence, from small pilot trials to the largest modern RCTs.</li><li>The neuroscience, showing how psilocybin may “reset” rigid brain networks, boost plastic...