COUCHMILK JOURNAL
[RESEARCH SERIES]
Can Psychedelics Make You a Better Athlete?
In this series we uncover insights from beyond our own personal experiences and we look at the data from the emerging field of athletic performance and psychedelics. Couchmilk AI analyzes data from every known study relevant to the impacts of psychedelics on human movement. Through this analysis we offer you an objective view of this field that we hope will enrich your personal journey.
by Couchmilk AI
4 min. read


Athletes live by numbers—faster sprints, heavier lifts, sharper reflexes. Progress is measured, tracked, and optimized. But psychedelics?
A UFC fighter swears psilocybin sharpens his reaction time. A triathlete credits microdosing for deepened endurance. A retired pro says ayahuasca helped him process trauma and extended his career.
Powerful stories—but are they replicable? Is there data to back the hype?
Subjective Experience Meets Hard Data
The best way to understand psychedelics isn’t to dismiss personal stories or blindly trust science in isolation. It’s to do both—track the research, analyze the results, and see where objective data supports what athletes are already feeling.
At Couchmilk, we compile and monitor all major studies related to psychedelics and human performance. At present we are tracking 16 studies. See 'Known Studies' section below.
Unlike anecdotal reports, the data we analyze comes from peer-reviewed studies, controlled trials, and cutting-edge neuroscience. But what does it actually say?
Psychedelics and Athletic Performance
One of the most well-documented effects of psychedelics? Neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire itself, absorb new skills, and recover from stress.
A 2018 study found psilocybin increased neuron dendritic spine density by 10-15%, literally growing new connections that could support faster learning and adaptation [Ly et al., 2018]. Brain imaging research found a 200% increase in connectivity between key brain regions after psilocybin use—particularly in areas responsible for decision-making, coordination, and emotional regulation [Carhart-Harris et al., 2017].
For athletes, this isn’t abstract neuroscience. This is faster reaction times, sharper technique retention, and deeper mental resilience.
Psychedelics and Concussion Recovery
One of the most promising applications of psychedelics in sports? Brain injury recovery.
A 2024 survey of 175 athletes found that those with a history of concussions were significantly more open to psilocybin-assisted therapy. This suggests an unmet need in sports medicine, where traditional treatments often fall short [VanderZwaag et al., 2024]. Early-stage research is exploring whether psychedelics can repair damaged neural pathways following brain trauma. Studies suggest psilocybin may reduce neuroinflammation and promote neural regrowth [Khan et al., 2021].
Athletes are already experimenting. If future studies confirm these findings, we could be looking at a game-changing shift in concussion recovery.
For the Curious and the Experienced
Psychedelics aren’t just about altered perception. They may reshape how the brain adapts and recovers over time. The science is catching up to what athletes have reported for years—there’s real neurobiological change happening.
And this is just the beginning.
Join the Conversation
We don’t have all the answers yet. But we’re tracking every study, every trial, every athlete-led experiment.
Want in? Join our Discord community to break down the latest research, share experiences, and explore where psychedelics fit into the future of performance. Drop your thoughts below—have psychedelics changed how you train?
dose. move. integrate. repeat.
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Known Studies
VanderZwaag, B., et al. (2024). Exploring Psychedelic Use in Athletes and Their Attitudes Toward Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in Concussion Recovery. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253241264812
Burr, J. F., Shearer, J., Stewart, M. C., Faught, B. E., & Sproule, S. (2021). Cannabis and Athletic Performance. Sports Medicine, 51(9), 1921–1934. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-021-01505-x
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Leech, R., Hellyer, P. J., Shanahan, M., Feilding, A., Tagliazucchi, E., & Nutt, D. J. (2017). Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression: fMRI-Measured Brain Network Changes. Scientific Reports, 7, 13282. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7
Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., Cosimano, M. P., Sepeda, N. D., Johnson, M. W., & Griffiths, R. R. (2020). Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(8), 797-805. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.0600
Gibson, C., Niazi, A., & Wharton, T. (2024). Cannabis and Exercise: A Review of Physiological and Psychological Effects. Sports Medicine, 54(2), 415-430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01980-4
Goodwin, G. M., Aaronson, S. T., Alvarez, O., Arden, P. C., Baker, A., Bennett, J. C., & Young, A. H. (2023). Single-Dose Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 325, 197-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.004
Grob, C. S., Danforth, A. L., Chopra, G. S., Hagerty, M., McKay, C. R., Halberstadt, A. L., & Greer, G. R. (2011). Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer. Neuropharmacology, 61(1-2), 268-275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.05.012
Halberstadt, A. L., & Geyer, M. A. (2011). Serotonergic Hallucinogens as Translational Models Relevant to Schizophrenia. Neuropharmacology, 61(3), 364-384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.01.017
Huestis, M. A., Gorelick, D. A., Heishman, S. J., Preston, K. L., Nelson, R. A., Moolchan, E. T., & Frank, R. A. (2011). Cannabinoid Elimination Patterns in Chronic Cannabis Smokers During Abstinence. Sports Medicine, 45(3), 201-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01980-4
Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Cosimano, M. P., & Griffiths, R. R. (2014). Pilot Study of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 28(11), 983-992. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811231179801
Khan, S., Ali, S., & Arshad, M. (2021). Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity in the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 685085. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.685085
Ly, C., Greb, A. C., Cameron, L. P., Wong, J. M., Barragan, E. V., Wilson, P. C., & Olson, D. E. (2018). Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity. Cell Reports, 23(11), 3170-3182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.05.022
Nichols, D. E. (2020). Psilocybin: From Ancient Magic to Modern Medicine. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 64(4), 310-320. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-020-0311-8
Nichols, D. E., & Hendricks, P. S. (2016). Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm. Pharmacological Reviews, 68(2), 264-355. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.115.011478
Passie, T., Seifert, J., Schneider, U., & Emrich, H. M. (2006). The Pharmacology of Psilocybin. Addiction Biology, 11(1), 10-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/1355621021000005937
Pinzone, M. L., Di Marzo, V., & Silvestri, C. (2023). The Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Exercise-Induced Adaptations: A Review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1985. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-023-00198-5