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Impact of Psilocybin on Motor Function in Healthy Participants: A Phase 1, Randomised, Triple-Blind, Dose-Finding
Chiranth Bhagavan1, Olivia Carter2, Glenn Nielsen3
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, 145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia. cbhagavan@student.unimelb.edu.au.
CNS Drugs
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin administration up to 15 mg was safe and feasible for movement tasks in healthy adults. Higher doses (20 mg) showed impairments in tasks combining motor and cognitive functions, informing future psychedelic-assisted rehabilitation studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology: Investigating the effects of psychedelic compounds on brain function and behavior.
- Rehabilitation Science: Exploring novel therapeutic approaches for motor function disorders.
Background:
- Psychedelics impact brain activity, but their effects on motor function remain unclear.
- Emerging interest in psychedelic-assisted physical therapy for motor function disorders necessitates safety and feasibility research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the feasibility and safety of administering movement tasks after low-to-moderate psilocybin doses in healthy volunteers.
- To inform future research on psilocybin-assisted physical rehabilitation in clinical populations.
Main Methods:
- Healthy adults received randomized psilocybin doses (5-20 mg) with at least one week between sessions.
- Movement tasks assessing gross motor function, upper limb performance, dexterity, and reaction time were administered at 1.5, 3, and 4.5 hours post-dose.
- Feasibility, safety (vital signs, adverse events), and alterations in conscious states were evaluated; outcomes were analyzed descriptively and with mixed-effects modeling.
Main Results:
- Movement tasks were feasible up to 15 mg psilocybin, with no serious adverse events related to task administration.
- At 20 mg, impairments were observed in tasks combining motor and cognitive functions (e.g., Box and Block Test, Digit Symbol Substitution Test).
- Nausea and headache were the most common adverse events; alterations in conscious states were greatest at 20 mg.
Conclusions:
- Movement tasks are feasible and safe during acute psilocybin effects at doses up to 15 mg.
- Higher psilocybin doses (20 mg) can impair combined motor and cognitive tasks.
- Findings support the potential for psilocybin-assisted physical rehabilitation, guiding future clinical studies.
