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Salience, sensemaking, and setting in psilocybin microdosing: Methodological lessons and preliminary findings of a mixed method qualitative study.

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Title: Salience, sensemaking, and setting in psilocybin microdosing: Methodological lessons and preliminary findings of a mixed method qualitative study.
Authors: Oblak, Aleš (AUTHOR), Korošec Hudnik, Liam (AUTHOR), Levačić, Anja (AUTHOR), Elersič, Kristian (AUTHOR), Pregelj, Peter (AUTHOR), Bon, Jurij (AUTHOR)
Source: Philosophical Psychology. Oct2025, Vol. 38 Issue 7, p3011-3037. 27p.
Subjects: Psilocybin, Cognition, Hallucinogenic drugs, Research methodology, Attention, Qualitative research
Abstract: There are profound methodological challenges facing microdosing research. One way we can address some of these methodological issues is by understanding how psilocybin microdosing fits in the broader existential context of people's lives. We recruited participants who underwent psilocybin microdosing on their own and consented to being monitored for harm mitigation purposes. We combined momentary ecological assessment and detailed retrospective interviews. Participants reported loosening of mental structures (i.e., less intense strength of thoughts, tangential stream of consciousness), increased salience of external stimuli (varyingly associated with greater interest in otherwise mundane activities, as well as sensory overload), an increase in flexible cognition, a decrease in stable cognition, and various ego-dystonic contents. Highly structured environments were conducive to positive appraisal of experiences and vice versa. Momentary ecological assessment and retrospective interviews yielded differing accounts of microdosing experience. We relate our findings to stable and flexible cognition, as well as the notion of salience. We point out the necessity for systematic mixed methods studies to better characterize the lived experience of taking low doses of psilocybin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Philosophical Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Salience, sensemaking, and setting in psilocybin microdosing: Methodological lessons and preliminary findings of a mixed method qualitative study.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Oblak%2C+Aleš%22">Oblak, Aleš</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Korošec+Hudnik%2C+Liam%22">Korošec Hudnik, Liam</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Levačić%2C+Anja%22">Levačić, Anja</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elersič%2C+Kristian%22">Elersič, Kristian</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pregelj%2C+Peter%22">Pregelj, Peter</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bon%2C+Jurij%22">Bon, Jurij</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Philosophical+Psychology%22">Philosophical Psychology</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 38 Issue 7, p3011-3037. 27p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psilocybin%22">Psilocybin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognition%22">Cognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hallucinogenic+drugs%22">Hallucinogenic drugs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention%22">Attention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink>
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  Data: There are profound methodological challenges facing microdosing research. One way we can address some of these methodological issues is by understanding how psilocybin microdosing fits in the broader existential context of people's lives. We recruited participants who underwent psilocybin microdosing on their own and consented to being monitored for harm mitigation purposes. We combined momentary ecological assessment and detailed retrospective interviews. Participants reported loosening of mental structures (i.e., less intense strength of thoughts, tangential stream of consciousness), increased salience of external stimuli (varyingly associated with greater interest in otherwise mundane activities, as well as sensory overload), an increase in flexible cognition, a decrease in stable cognition, and various ego-dystonic contents. Highly structured environments were conducive to positive appraisal of experiences and vice versa. Momentary ecological assessment and retrospective interviews yielded differing accounts of microdosing experience. We relate our findings to stable and flexible cognition, as well as the notion of salience. We point out the necessity for systematic mixed methods studies to better characterize the lived experience of taking low doses of psilocybin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Philosophical Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: Oct2025
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