O'Higgins, Fiachra J. (2022) Neuroenchantment or Neuroenhancement: An analysis of Psilocybin-Assisted Neurofeedback and Placebo. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Objective Neurofeedback is a treatment protocol partially moderated by neuroplasticity. Putting the brain in an increased neuroplastic state through a psilocybin microdosing regime, an increased response to neurofeedback can be expected. This being said, both neurofeedback and psilocybin microdosing are contentious. For this reason, this study will evaluate the efficacy of combining neurofeedback and psilocybin while considering the implications of placebo in the intervention. Method Two distinct groups participated in this study, one group exposed to the entire intervention and one passive control group. The experimental group received a 3-day neurofeedback session and microdosed for 2 weeks. Both groups took a cognitive battery assessing working memory updating, response inhibition, set-shifting, and conflict monitoring to measure executive function improvements. Results A nonsignificant difference p=0.180 with a moderate to large effect size, d= 0.655 was found between experimental and passive control group in improvement in executive function task reaction time, a nonsignificant difference p=0.839 with effect size d=0.098 was found in executive function task accuracy improvement. A nonsignificant improvement p=.110, effect size η2p=0.218, between sessions in the experimental group was shown. PRL had moderate to strong correlations with neurofeedback improvement r=.370, executive function reaction time r=.244 and executive function accuracy r=.245. Conclusion Psilocybin-assisted neurofeedback is a novel therapeutic protocol with much promise. However, much research is needed to understand the intervention's full capabilities and to understand the role of placebo in eliciting improvement during the intervention.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Enriquez Geppert, S. and Poppe, A. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Jul 2022 13:41 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Jul 2022 13:41 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1097 |
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