Salience, sensemaking, and setting in psilocybin microdosing: Methodological lessons and preliminary findings of a mixed method qualitative study

People who microdosed psilocybin on their own reported loosening of mental structures, such as less intense thoughts and a more tangential stream of consciousness, along with increased sensitivity to external stimuli that could make mundane activities more interesting or lead to sensory overload. Flexible cognition increased while stable cognition decreased, and some ego-dystonic contents emerged. The experience was appraised more positively in highly structured environments. Momentary assessments and retrospective interviews gave different accounts, highlighting the need for systematic mixed methods studies to characterize the lived experience of low-dose psilocybin.

Study at a glance

Abstract

There are profound methodological challenges facing microdosing research. One way we can address some of these methodological issues is by understanding how psilocybin microdosing fits in the broader existential context of people’s lives. We recruited participants who underwent psilocybin microdosing on their own and consented to being monitored for harm mitigation purposes. We combined momentary ecological assessment and detailed retrospective interviews. Participants reported loosening of mental structures (i.e., less intense strength of thoughts, tangential stream of consciousness), increased salience of external stimuli (varyingly associated with greater interest in otherwise mundane activities, as well as sensory overload), an increase in flexible cognition, a decrease in stable cognition, and various ego-dystonic contents. Highly structured environments were conducive to positive appraisal of experiences and vice versa. Momentary ecological assessment and retrospective interviews yielded differing accounts of microdosing experience. We relate our findings to stable and flexible cognition, as well as the notion of salience. We point out the necessity for systematic mixed methods studies to better characterize the lived experience of taking low doses of psilocybin.