Brief
Study finds microdosing LSD boosts attention in women but not men
Researchers say tiny LSD doses raise focus for women, challenging assumptions of uniform drug effects.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial published in Nature reports that fractional doses of LSD improved sustained attention in female participants, while male participants showed no measurable change, according to the Independent.
What happened
The study administered sub‑perceptual LSD—about one‑tenth of a recreational dose—to a mixed‑gender cohort and evaluated performance on standardized cognitive tests that measured prolonged focus and attentional endurance. Female subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvements compared with placebo, whereas male subjects performed at placebo‑level scores.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the findings challenge the long‑standing view that psychedelic microdosing effects are uniform across sexes. It also places the work in the broader context of growing wellness trends, citing that OpenAI founder Sam Altman has described guided psychedelic experiences as “life‑changing.”
What was said
Lead researcher Iva Totomanova of Maastricht University told the Independent, “The key finding was that LSD improves how women can sustain attention in certain tasks.” She added, “Instead, the results point to a more cautious message: effects may depend on the person, the cognitive task being measured, and the circumstances of use.”
How it came about
The trial follows years of anecdotal reports about microdosing benefits and recent scientific efforts to test those claims rigorously. Earlier Felo coverage explored related brain‑health research, such as the TIMP2 protein study (TIMP2 and aging brains) and the multisensory emotion study (brain integrates sight and sound).
Key facts
- Microdosing LSD improved sustained attention in female participants (independent.co.uk)
- Male participants showed no significant change compared with placebo (independent.co.uk)
- The study was double‑blind, placebo‑controlled and published in Nature (independent.co.uk)
- Lead researcher Iva Totomanova is affiliated with Maastricht University (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Microdosing LSD can improve your brain function – if you’re a woman”
