Posthumus Meyjes, Mika (2023) The Effect of Psilocybin-Assisted Neurofeedback (PANF) on Cognitive Control: A Feasibility Study. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Abstract A neurofeedback training protocol, known as the frontal-midline theta (fm-theta) protocol, directly targets theta activity arising in the frontal midline region (Enriquez-Geppert et al., 2014). The aim of fm-theta neurofeedback is to train individuals to upregulate the selected brain activity and for this improvement to transfer to daily-life where executive functioning, or cognitive control is required (Enriquez-Geppert et al., 2014; Eschmann et al., 2020). The success of such an intervention largely depends on individuals possessing sufficient neuroplasticity to enable this learning. Classical serotonergic psychedelics, to which psilocybin belong, are postulated to initiate neuroplasticity (de Vos et al., 2021.) There is some evidence that smaller doses of psychedelics, known as ‘microdoses’ could induce neuroplasticity (Calder & Hasler, 2022). The PANF study therefore combined microdoses of psilocybin with fm-theta neurofeedback to potentially improve the efficacy of neurofeedback effects and to assess the subsequent effects on cognitive control tasks. Although not statistically significant, the experimental group displayed greater improvements in reaction times in the Conflict Monitoring, Task-Switch and Memory Updating tasks, compared to the passive control group. They also exhibited slightly greater improvements in accuracy in the Task-Switch and Memory Updating tasks, but again this was not statistically significant. These findings hint towards the potential efficacy of the PANF protocol. As a semi-naturalistic feasibility study, the aim was to investigate the practical potential of implementing such a protocol and therefore serves as a stepping stone for future research. Keywords: Cognitive control, executive function, neurofeedback, neuroplasticity, psilocybin, microdose
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Enriquez Geppert, S. and Mathot, S. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Cognitive Psychology and Psychophysiology (CPP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Aug 2023 09:16 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Aug 2023 09:16 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2781 |
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