Psilocybin in magic mushrooms can influence brain for weeks, study finds

Experts say the discovery provides new opportunities for treating conditions such as severe depression. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images

The psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms not only gives people a day trip – it can influence the brain for weeks, researchers have found.

Experts say the study helps explain why taking psilocybin – the active ingredient in the drug – can result in a distorted sense of space, time and self during a trip, as well as shed light on the mechanism by which it can help in the treatment of severe depression.