Exploring the relationship between psychedelic microdosing, empathy, and cognitive flexibility

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of psychedelic microdosing on empathy and cognitive flexibility. While high doses of psychedelics have been shown to enhance emotional empathy, the effects of low, sub-perceptual doses—known as microdosing—on empathy and cognition remain poorly understood. The current research addresses this gap using a multi-method approach that includes self-report measures, behavioral tasks, and electroencephalography (EEG). Participants (N=90) with prior psychedelic experience will be tested at three time points in a microdosing regimen (before, during, and after). We will assess empathy using both the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), and cognitive flexibility via the Cognitive Flexibility Scale and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). EEG recordings during the MET and WCST will capture event-related potentials linked to empathy (P1, LPP) and cognitive flexibility (N2, P3). We hypothesize that microdosing will be associated with increases in both emotional and cognitive empathy, and with greater cognitive flexibility. We further expect that cognitive flexibility will mediate the relationship between microdosing stage and cognitive empathy. This is one of the first studies to explore these relationships using behavioral and neural markers in a controlled lab setting. Findings may offer insight into the subtle psychological and neurophysiological effects of microdosing and help clarify its potential as a tool for enhancing social cognition. This could inform future clinical applications, particularly in populations with empathy deficits.

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