A new study measures the temporal distortions caused by psychedelics

Summary: Have you ever wondered why time seems to stand still when people take magic mushrooms? A new study reveals the fascinating science behind this mind-bending experience.

Researchers tested 24 healthy volunteers using psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. During the test, they asked participants to look at a blue circle on a computer screen and judge how long it stayed there. The results were incredibly interesting! People on psilocybin thought time was passing much slower than it actually was. If the circle was on the screen for two seconds, they felt like less time had gone by.

But here is the real twist: the drug doesn't actually change your brain's internal biological clock. Instead, it creates what scientists call "cognitive noise." This means it temporarily scrambles your working memory and attention. Your brain simply struggles to hold onto the memory of the seconds ticking by! So, the next time you hear about someone's hours-long psychedelic journey, remember—it's not a magical time warp, it's just their memory losing count of the minutes.

For more details, see PsyPost at psypost.org/psilocybin-alters-time-perception-by-disrupting-working-memory-and-attention-2026-03-20/ (opens in new tab)