Microdosing is becoming the subject of a growing wave of scientific research:
- Early studies have focused on testing physiological safety and measuring the effects on mood, cognition and wellbeing.
- More recently, research has started to explore a fuller range of potential therapeutic and medicinal benefits of microdosing, such as ADHD, migraines, cluster headaches, Traumatic Brain Injury, parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease.
All research is in its earliest phases, and therefore the evidence is still largely inconclusive. Further research is needed to scientifically confirm the therapeutic benefits from anecdotal reports.
Contribute to microdosing science
Citizen science, or community science, is a form of scientific research that involves members of the general public in the collection and analysis of data. It allows researchers to gain access to a larger and more diverse set of data, as well as facilitates mutual learning between scientists and microdosers.
As a microdoser, you can get involved. By participating in any of the community science projects below, you actively contribute to scientific research in meaningful ways, while also helping encourage collaboration between scientists and the public.
Microdose.me – The world’s largest mobile microdosing study
This ongoing, mobile study was developed to gather quantitative and qualitative data (via the Quantified Citizen app) of both a microdosing and non-microdosing group to gain a better understanding of the effects of microdosing on brain performance and mental health. The results of this study will generate hypotheses for future research and provide an improved understanding of the effects of microdosing which ideally, will lead to better safety and maximize potential benefits.
This project has resulted in the 3rd most downloaded paper on Nature scientific Reports in 2021. It has over 23,000 participants in 84 countries. It uses the Quantified Citizen app for data collection.
This study is being conducted by Dr. Zachary Walsh, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with other scientists, such as Paul Stamets, and the technical team at Quantified Citizen.
Microdose.me – Microdosing and meditation
You are being invited to take part in this study on the potential effects that microdosing psychedelic substances have on meditation practice.
‘Enhancing Mindfulness’ was reported as the most widely endorsed motivation for microdosing in the largest microdosing study to date, which was conducted by our collaborators between 2019 and 2021, and comprised over 17,000 participants. Yet, no research to date has specifically assessed the effect of microdosing on meditation practice. This study aims to shed some light on the effects that combining microdosing with meditation have on regular meditators‘ practice. This study gathers data from both a microdosing and non-microdosing group.
Psynautics.com – Measure your brain activity through EEG
Psynautics is a research lab that makes it possible for microdosers to track brain activity and collect valuable data on Cognition, Emotion, and Awareness, while unlocking studies tied to various interventions and their impacts on mental health and neuroplasticity.
Microdosers can participate in a study that uses a take-home EEG band—no need for visits to the lab. It is open for anyone interested in tracking their brain health while microdosing. However, the researchers are most interested in individuals with anxiety and substance use disorders planning to start a Fadiman, one-day-on, two-days-off protocol. Participants will record 5 minutes of brain activity daily over 35 days with EEG Study Kits held for 40 days before return.
Psynautics is founded and run by Conor Murray, PhD, neuroscientist at UCLA. His published work includes the neurobiology of substance use disorders and studies of psychedelic compounds as novel therapeutic agents. He has created Psynautics as a research platform to address gaps in the fields of neuroscience, pharmacology, and the science of consciousness. Psynautics is committed to open science practices.
James Fadiman’s request for experience reports
James Fadiman continues to gather information about microdosing experiences. You can tell him more about yourself and write journal entries to him about your experiences. Please send your written report of any length at jfadiman [at] gmail.com.
Particular interest goes out to the experiences of those with histories of stroke, traumatic brain injury, severe headache or menstrual disorders, and those diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorders. Your reports on how microdosing impacts specific health conditions will help the scientific community expand their knowledge into those areas.