{
  "id": 2256141,
  "title": "Psilocybin lengthens hippocampal sharp wave ripples",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/psilocybin-lengthens-hippocampal-sharp-wave-ripples",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-20T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.17.745042v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound known to induce neural plasticity, has been found to influence the hippocampal sharp wave ripples (SWRs) in rodents. SWRs, brief high-frequency brain oscillations linked to memory consolidation, are crucial for memory processing.\n\nA study investigated the effects of a 10 mg/kg dose of psilocybin on SWRs in rodents. The results showed that psilocybin decreased the peak frequency of SWRs and increased their duration immediately after administration, compared to control sessions conducted the day before and after.\n\nMoreover, psilocybin also altered sleep patterns, causing a significant reduction in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, which lasted for several hours. These findings suggest that psilocybin may impact memory processing by modulating hippocampal SWRs. Thus, understanding the effects of psilocybin on SWRs could provide insights into its potential therapeutic benefits for memory-related disorders.",
  "summary": "Psilocybin is a psychedelic which has been shown to induce neural plasticity through activation of intracellular serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors. It also produces brain-wide changes in structural and functional connectivity and holds promise as a therapeutic compound for treating anxiety and depression. Despite links between psilocybin-induced plasticity, the psychedelic experience, and reduction…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}