What should you listen to while tripping?: 5 Questions with auditory neuroscientist Nikolas Francis

Psilocybin research on mice suggests music experiences during psychedelics may be shaped by how auditory neurons respond to sound over time. Auditory neuroscientist Nikolas Francis explains that his lab uses genetically modified mice and two-photon imaging to measure single-neuron activity while animals are exposed to controlled audio. In a psilocybin timeline of before dosing, immediately after, and about 30 minutes post dosing, neurons show an initial boost in response, followed by later hypoactivity that is also more variable. Francis argues that musical tonality or “scaffolding” can remain stable even when overall sound sensitivity changes. He connects this to why music is often used as a therapeutic safety net, and suggests clinicians may need to consider pacing and predictability, not just genre, because auditory sensitivity can vary during a session.