A new study has revealed that a compound found in ‘magic mushrooms’ can help treat depression by reducing a type of brain activity that prevents people from breaking free from cycles of negative thinking.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from this mental condition. It is characterized by a persistent lack of happiness or loss of interest in activities for most of the day, nearly every day, over several weeks.
To cope with this condition, patients are usually prescribed talk therapy and antidepressants. However, research shows that these methods do not work for everyone.
Why people remain stuck in this condition for long periods is still not entirely clear.
In recent years, the compound psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, has been widely tested for its antidepressant properties, and long-lasting effects on the brain have been observed even after a single dose.
Now, a new study explains how this compound helps alleviate depression by breaking the cycle of negative thinking.
According to scientists at Cornell University, psilocybin weakens a type of brain activity that traps patients in a process known as rumination.
The study, published in the journal Cell, quotes lead author Alex Kwan as saying that rumination is one of the central features of depression, in which people remain stuck in repetitive negative thoughts.
