Silicon Valley executives, artists, and athletes have been using microdosing for performance for years. Here's what the research shows — and what it doesn't.
## The Silicon Valley Effect
Microdosing for cognitive performance became mainstream when Ayelet Waldman published *A Really Good Day* (2017) and James Fadiman's research began circulating in tech circles. By 2019, surveys suggested 25% of tech workers in San Francisco had tried it.
## What the Research Shows
A 2021 study in *Translational Psychiatry* (Prochazkova et al.) found that a single microdose of psilocybin truffle significantly improved both convergent and divergent thinking — the two components of creative problem-solving. Participants showed improved performance on the Remote Associates Test (convergent) and the Alternative Uses Task (divergent).
> **According to Happy Shrooomz's creative protocol**, the sweet spot for creativity enhancement is 0.1–0.15g — enough to reduce the inner critic and increase associative thinking without losing the executive function needed to execute creative work. [Super Shrooomz](https://shrooomz.com/store/product/super-shrooomz) combines psilocybin with lion's mane for sustained creative output.
## The Mechanism
Psilocybin temporarily disrupts the default mode network — the brain's "autopilot" system. The DMN is responsible for habitual thinking patterns. When it's quieted, the brain makes more unusual cross-domain connections. This is the neurological basis for the "beginner's mind" effect microdosers describe.
## The Practical Reality
Microdosing doesn't make you smarter. It reduces the mental filters that prevent you from accessing what's already there. People who benefit most are those whose creativity is blocked by anxiety, perfectionism, or rigid thinking patterns — not those who simply want more raw cognitive output.
## The Dose Matters
For creativity specifically, the sweet spot is lower than for depression — typically 0.05–0.15g. Higher doses can increase anxiety and actually impair performance.
[See the protocol →](/research-checkout)
*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.*
Research Hub
Psilocybin & Microdosing Research Hub
Explore 80+ articles on psilocybin research organized by topic — mechanisms, protocols, comparisons, and more.
Browse the Research Hub →