The endeavour to understand and improve cognitive abilities has long fascinated scientists. How can new insights into neuroplasticity, particularly through psychedelic research, revolutionize this field? Psychedelics are known for fast, lasting improvements in challenging cases like treatment-resistant depression, potentially by inducing unique neuroplasticity. This could also be crucial for individuals with cognitive deficits and mental health disorders. Cognitive deficits in psychopathology include dysfunctions specifically in executive functions – the high-level cognitive processes that govern, problem-solving, planning, and behaviour regulation and are imperative for daily life. Executive dysfunctions can drastically undermine the quality of life and pose substantial challenges in functionally. With this in mind, psychedelics, may promise a neuroplasticity enhancer that combined with a another training can boost its effects. This represents a worthwhile paradigm shift in our approach to cognitive rehabilitation for mental disorders.

This presentation focuses on a pioneering study exploring psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback. Participants were divided into an experimental group, which underwent a two-week program of psilocybin microdosing followed by neurofeedback sessions, and a control group. While immediate improvements in objective executive function tasks were not observed, the experimental group reported significant enhancements in self-reported daily executive functions, including working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. Additionally, they experienced notable improvements in their self-determined goals cognition, presence, and mood. The results of our study highlight the potential of psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback as a transdiagnostic treatment option. This innovative approach not only demonstrates feasibility, but also emphasizes the potential for to amplify the effects of neurofeedback interventions.