By Katie Pickard, Director of Education
Can a single psychedelic experience shift your entire worldview? It’s a provocative question, and one that’s sparked widespread interest as the therapeutic potential of psychedelics gains mainstream attention. Our study provides a fresh and more nuanced look at this issue by tracking belief changes before and after naturalistic psilocybin use in a large, diverse group of participants. The findings challenge some common assumptions, offering both reassurance and new directions for future research.
Here’s the full paper: Psychedelic Experiences Increase Mind Perception but do not Change Atheist-Believer Status: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Study Overview: What Was Measured?
The research followed 657 participants who planned to use psilocybin (commonly known as “magic mushrooms”) in non-laboratory settings. Participants were surveyed before and after their psychedelic experiences to measure changes in three key areas:
- Mind Perception: How much “conscious experience” people attributed to various entities like plants, animals, and even rocks.
- Metaphysical Beliefs: Views on the nature of reality, such as dualism, materialism, and idealism.
- Atheist-Believer Status: Self-identification as atheist, agnostic, or religious believer.
Major Finding #1: Psilocybin Increases Mind Perception
One of the most consistent and significant findings was an increase in mind perception. After taking psilocybin, participants were more likely to perceive a range of entities (such as fungi, plants, and animals) as having some form of consciousness. This echoes findings from earlier studies and reinforces the idea that psychedelics may expand our sense of what counts as “alive” or sentient.
Interestingly, individuals who were psychedelic-naive (i.e., first-time users) showed greater increases in mind perception than those with prior experience. This suggests that the first psilocybin journey may be particularly impactful in terms of shifting how people relate to the world around them.
Researchers note that this kind of enhanced mind perception could have both positive and problematic consequences. On one hand, it might increase feelings of connection, empathy, and ecological awareness. On the other, it could play a role in conspiratorial or delusional thinking when agency is over-attributed to inanimate forces or events.
Major Finding #2: Metaphysical Beliefs Largely Unchanged
Contrary to several earlier studies, this research found minimal changes in metaphysical beliefs following psilocybin use. For instance, there were no significant shifts in support for dualism (the belief that mind and body are separate), materialism (the view that everything is physical), or idealism (the belief that reality is fundamentally mental).
The only minor exception was a slight decrease in materialism among psychedelic-naive participants two to three months post-experience. This subtle shift might hint at a broader openness to non-material explanations of consciousness, but it’s not strong enough to suggest a consistent pattern across users.
These findings run counter to some cross-sectional or retrospective studies, which often report significant belief changes post-psychedelics. The difference may stem from the methodological rigor of this new study, which measured beliefs before and after the experience rather than relying on participant memory about their previous beliefs.
Major Finding #3: No Significant Change in Religious Identification
Finally, the study found no significant changes in Atheist-Believer status. Participants were just as likely to identify as atheists, agnostics, or believers after their psilocybin experience as they were before. This challenges concerns that psychedelics might act as “conversion agents,” shifting people’s spiritual or religious affiliations without their informed consent.
Again, prior studies using retrospective self-reports had suggested otherwise, but the prospective design of this new research reduces the chance of recall bias. Our researchers cautioned that individual differences and specific contexts may still influence spiritual shifts for some users.
Why This Matters
This study marks an important step forward in our understanding of how psychedelics interact with belief systems. The finding that psilocybin increases mind perception aligns with anecdotal reports of users feeling deeply connected to nature and the universe. But it also provides reassurance that core metaphysical and religious beliefs are not being dramatically or universally altered, at least not after a single experience in naturalistic settings.
For clinicians, researchers, and ethicists, these results suggest a more grounded framework for informed consent and participant expectations. While psychedelics can powerfully shift how we perceive the world, their impact on deeply held beliefs may be more subtle and individualized than previously thought.
Final Thoughts
As public interest in psychedelics continues to grow, so does the need for careful, evidence-based research. This study’s prospective, longitudinal approach provides much-needed clarity and nuance to a field that is often clouded by hype and anecdote. The take-home message? Psilocybin may open your mind, but it’s unlikely to rewrite your entire belief system overnight.
If you’re looking for personalized guidance and support before or after a psychedelic experience, the Unlimited Sciences Psychedelic Info Line offers free, 1:1 support for answering questions about psychedelic safety, integration, and emotional processing.