Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39847068›Full record

SynthesisPsychopharmacology2025

Acute effects of psilocybin on attention and executive functioning in healthy volunteers: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis.

P Yousefi, Morten P Lietz, F J O'Higgins, R C A Rippe, G Hasler, M van Elk, S Enriquez-Geppert

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Psychopharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

P Yousefi *Cognitive Psychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands. prs.yusefi@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3884-7592
Morten P Lietz *Molecular Psychiatry Lab, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland. morten.lietz@unifr.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0629-3698
F J O'HigginsRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
R C A RippeInstitute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
G HaslerMolecular Psychiatry Lab, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Freiburg, Villars-sur-Glâne, Switzerland.
M van ElkCognitive Psychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
S Enriquez-GeppertDepartment of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationalePsilocybin shows promise for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, insight into its acute effects on cognition is lacking. Given the significant role of executive functions in daily life and treatment efficacy, it is crucial to evaluate how psilocybin influences these cognitive domains.

objectivesThis meta-analysis aims to quantify the acute effects of psilocybin on executive functions and attention, while examining how dosage, timing of administration, cognitive domain, and task characteristics moderate these effects.

methodsA systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis were conducted on empirical studies assessing psilocybin's acute effects on working memory, conflict monitoring, response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and attention. Effect sizes for reaction time (RT) and accuracy (ACC) were calculated, exploring the effects of timing (on-peak defined as 90-180 min post-administration), dosage, cognitive function categories, and task sensitivity to executive functions as potential moderators.

resultsThirteen studies (42 effect sizes) were included. In the acute phase, psilocybin increased RTs (Hedges' g = 1.13, 95% CI [0.57, 1.7]) and did not affect ACC (Hedges' g = -0.45, 95% CI [-0.93, 0.034]). Effects on RT were dose dependent. Significant between-study heterogeneity was found for both RT and ACC. Task sensitivity to executive functions moderated RT effects. Publication bias was evident, but the overall effect remained significant after adjustment for this.

conclusionsOur meta-analysis shows that psilocybin impairs executive functions and results in a slowing down of RT. We discuss potential neurochemical mechanisms underlying the observed effects as well as implications for the safe use of psilocybin in clinical and experimental contexts.

Indexed as

AttentionExecutive FunctionHallucinogensPsilocybinCognitionDose-Response Relationship, DrugHealthy VolunteersHumansMemory, Short-TermReaction TimeHallucinogensPsilocybinAccuracyAcute effectsAttentionCognitive performanceExecutive functionMeta-analysisPsilocybinPsychedelicsReaction timeWorking memory

Identifiers

PMID39847068
PMCPMC12084245

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.