The Effect of Psilocybin on the Brain - Assignment Example

In a second experiment published in the British journal of psychiatry, the mushroom chemical increased personal memory, and the researchers concluded that the chemical could be used in psychotherapy. The article's writer, neuropsychopharmacology, participated in the two researchers and found out that rather than the chemical expanding the mind and increasing brain activity, it led to a decrease in brain activity in areas with more connection with other regions.

The writer argues that the hubs constrain one to experience the world and make it look extraordinary. The people tested on the chemical reported having unusual body sensations, and they altered how they sensed space and time. They also experienced decreased oxygen levels in their blood flow and visions of geometric patterns(Nauert, 2014). The writer says that neuroscientists have often disagreed on the functions of the Medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex. Still, they all agree that they affect consciousness and self-identity.

Neuroscientists also agree that the mPFC causes depression and that the psilocybin’s action caused by the chemical in mushrooms causes an antidepressant effect (Nauert, 2014). The interpretation from the research was that psilocybin reduced the rate of blood flow in the hypothalamus, which causes headaches and hence why some patients improved under the chemical. Some volunteers said that they viewed written cues inside the brain scanner machine and that after taking the psilocybin, their brain vision and other sensory information increased.

Two weeks after the research, the participants still showed vivid memories and were significantly well health-wise (Nauert, 2014). The research also proved suffering from anxiety experienced decreased depression after using psilocybin. The study concluded that psilocybin improved people’s sense of emotional well-being by reducing depression and anxiety, and its results were inconsistent with previous research. The effect of psilocybin is that it uses glucose and generates rapid energy, which does not use oxygen; hence, the oxygen concentration in the blood vessels increases(Nauert, 2014).

The article is related to cognitive psychology since it discusses the solution to depression by focusing on brain activities. Cognitive psychology revolves around the notion that anything that happens to a human being is controlled by what is happening in their brain. The article's author describes the theory behind the effect of psilocybin, a chemical present in mushrooms, and it is argued that it can be used to relieve people from depression. The author uses medical terms and explanations, making it easy for the writer to convince the readers that the information is accurate. The writer has related all his knowledge to the brain and is guided by cognitive theory throughout the research. Through the discussions we have had in class on cognitive psychology, one can argue that the study has a degree of truth since the researchers are trying to make alterations to the brain to solve problems in the human body. The cognitive theory concerns mental functions such as perception and attention, which scientifically control human behaviour. The study is therefore based on cognitive theory, demonstrating the information learnt in class since the researcher said that similar research was done earlier and provided concurring results.

The study was very detailed and was done professionally, with all the experiments being done under machine control. The research was done by doctors and neuroscientists who understand the brain well, so their information is compelling. This is a strength of the article; it increases the chances of the information and arguments being accurate and valid. The research in the report involved many people; for example, they tested the chemical on twenty people in one experiment, and the results provided data that could make valid conclusions. The author focuses more on brain activity and fails to explain how the effect is transferred to recovering from depression. The article's title talks about depression, and hence more focus should be given to the issue rather than researching more on the effect of the chemical on the brain. The researcher should have used people who were suffering from depression instead of using healthy people to convince the reader that the chemical affects recovering from depression. The writer has difficulty concluding that the chemical impacts recovering from depression.